William Byron, already qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and second in the regular season standings, was looking for a change of pace at Iowa Speedway. Despite his strong position, Byron was not satisfied with the recent performance, accumulating five results below 27th place in the last eight races. The driver wanted to regain confidence, especially with the proximity of the playoffs.
The change came on Sunday, with Byron’s second victory of the season, thanks to a fuel-saving strategy that allowed him to cross the finish line. Byron completed the final 144 laps of the race without stopping, and the multiple yellow flags in the third stage helped him conserve the necessary fuel. This victory gives Byron an 18-point lead over his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Chase Elliott, in the fight for the regular season title.“We’ve been fast every weekend,” Byron said. “The results hadn’t materialized, and that was starting to affect us.”
William Byron
Byron, winner of the Daytona 500 at the start of the season, has eight top-10 finishes, including three second places. However, he had less favorable results in Atlanta, the Chicago street race, and Dover. Rudy Fugle, crew chief, highlighted Byron’s skill.“This is going to change the course,” Byron affirmed.
William Byron
“He’s an incredible driver. I think he’s the best overall driver right now. He’s maturing and gaining the experience to prove it. He’s very versatile and a fighter. He doesn’t give up”.
Rudy FugleFugle trusted Byron’s ability, despite fuel problems in previous races. “He has improved a lot over the years, adapting to unforeseen events. And suddenly, you are leading and have the opportunity to win.” Byron admitted to feeling nervous in the final laps.“I knew what to expect… I was focused on saving fuel, making different adjustments to the car. The team did a great job guiding me”.
William ByronByron thought he still had some fuel at the end of the race. “I felt like if I could get out of turn four, I could win the race. And that’s what happened.” Byron now focuses his gaze on the playoffs.“We needed to win a race like this, we deserved it for how we have grown during the year. It’s a great relief that things went well. This will give us a big boost”.
William Byron
