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William Byron driving for a great cause during Roval NASCAR Playoffs elimination race

JHby: Jonathan Howard22 hours agoJondean25
William Byron Valvoline
Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

This weekend, the stakes are higher for William Byron with the Roval elimination race, but his paint scheme carries a greater cause. At times, NASCAR is about more than the result on the track. That will be the case for Byron this weekend as he teams up with Valvoline and Blood Cancer United.

Last Friday, ahead of Kansas, William Byron made a stop in Lexington, Kentucky. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was at Valvoline Global HQ for a paint scheme unveiling that featured not only Blood Cancer United, but some special art as well.

Four inspiring and brave pediatric blood cancer survivors, Penelope, William, Natiya, and Wren, helped design this car. Confetti, planets, stars, a unicorn, and a bunny adorn the car. Hendrick Motorsports, William Byron, and Valvoline came together with Blood Cancer United to make it happen.

It’s a special scheme, and something Byron was happy to be a part of. He spoke with 5GOATs about the car and the partnership.

“Yeah, it does [mean a lot],” Byron said. “I think any time you can have something that’s unique and different is always cool to be a part of, but then have something that is this meaningful to a lot of the kids that helped design it is very inspirational. So, yeah, looking forward to the weekend.”

Valvoline Global President and CEO Jamal Muashsher was part of the unveiling in Lexington. He spoke about the effort it took to make this event and this paint scheme happen.

“I think first it starts with our purpose as an organization, which is to inspire and enable those who move the world forward,” Muashsher explained. “So, to have that purpose and then be able to take that and translate it into an idea and have partners like Hendrick Motorsports and Blood Cancer United. It truly is a total team effort to make this really compelling idea, to raise awareness, as well as raise critical funds for innovative therapies for pediatric blood cancer. It’s a very exciting time for us, we’re honored to be a part of it.”

With how much this weekend means for the sponsors involved and the kids, it’s a big deal. Add on top of that the pressure of the NASCAR Playoffs and it feels daunting.

William Byron hopes to win home race in NASCAR Playoffs

The NASCAR Playoffs will have four fewer drivers after Sunday. William Byron is hoping that his +40 point cushion to the cutline will be enough, and it should be. Still, there is always the pressure to perform, and the Roval is an unforgiving race track at times.

Earlier this season, Byron dominated the Coca-Cola 600 on the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He came up short as Ross Chastain made a wild pass for the lead as the race came to an end. Byron lost out on a crown jewel, a win, and a victory at his home track.

“I think it would mean a lot,” Byron said about winning at Charlotte. “The way our season’s going, we’ve had a really strong year to this point. So, just trying to continue that and build on it for the next up and coming races, and we’re getting down to the wire. The Roval’s a big weekend for us being a cutoff race, and hopefully, we can capitalize on the momentum.”

So, this weekend might not be the most pressure-filled when it comes to advancing to the Round of 8. That is, if everything goes moderately well. Even a mediocre finish would get Byron across the line. Nevertheless, he has pressure. Can he win at his home track? Can he get a big performance for Valvoline and Blood Cancer United?

In the last two seasons, William Byron has finished P2 and P3. His last two finishes are P3 and P9. We know he can win on a road course, that is, if he or anyone else can get by Shane van Gisbergen. The Kiwi is looking for his fifth straight road course win and hoping to take one away from an active playoff driver.

“Yeah, definitely changes things a little bit,” Byron said about SVG. “I think he’s been so good at the road course that you’d have to consider him the favorite for sure. But there’s still a lot of execution pieces of the race that have to go correctly. So, I think that you never, you can’t…you gotta expect anything.”

Is this the weekend a Cup Series veteran unseats SVG on the road course? William Byron is hoping to be the guy who does it.