William Byron wins at Watkins Glen for fifth checkered flag of the season
William Byron had just four career wins when the 2023 season started, and he just won his fifth of the season at Watkins Glen. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is going to extend his NASCAR wins lead this season and his playoff points lead just ahead of the postseason.
This was another dominating victory for William Byron. Las Vegas, Phoenix, Darlington, Atlanta, and now Watkins Glen. If you ask me, that sounds like a championship resume. However, there is a long way to go between now and the championship race at Phoenix.
After Chase Elliott ran out of fuel and brought out the caution, Byron had to hold off Denny Hamlin on the restart. Byron was fast and aggressive and held his position. Then, he didn’t look back in the final 40 laps of the race.
William Byron has taken this 24 team to places it hasn’t been since Jeff Gordon was still competing for championships. Just 25 years old, Byron isn’t even in his prime racing years yet. The speed he has shown on a diverse number of tracks is nothing short of impressive.
I really like this performance from Byron at this moment in the season. Since his win at Atlanta, he hadn’t finished better than P14 (Pocono, Indy). Now, he’s back on top and heading in the right direction.
William Byron makes a statement ahead of the playoffs
If we just call it how it is, William Byron has struggled in the summer. His entire career he has had issues in the long, hot stretch of the middle of the season. However, Byron has never broken through that slump quite like he did today. In the four races before Watkins Glen, the 24 finished P14, P21, P35, and P14.
Michael McDowell had a car capable of winning and beating Byron. In fact, he led Byron early in this race. However, multiple pit road penalties and a failed ECU at the end of the race relegated McDowell to a DNF.
With a win on the day at The Glen, Hendrick Motorsports has won five in a row at the track. Daytona is up next and could put another brand-new driver in victory lane. William Byron’s win gives drivers like Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs another chance to try to make the playoffs.
However, nothing will be easy. Right now, Byron looks like the best driver in NASCAR, but he has to be consistent. His stretch from Talladega to Atlanta was arguably his best. Then he got into his old habit of slumping in the summer. This win might just be what his team needed to make a championship run this year.