DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 17: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta ‘Color of the Year’ Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Florida.Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
William Byron tasted victory for the first time in the NASCAR Cup Series in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday night.
In Monday’s rain-delayed Daytona 500, Byron experienced the sting of an early exit from NASCAR’s most prestigious race.
Daytona International Speedway annually holds the two duel races to set the lineup for the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The first duel sets the inside line, and the second duel sets the outside line. These two races give the drivers the best opportunity to see how their cars will handle in the draft, and while making dicey moves to work their way to the front of the field.
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2019, in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – It took a post-race fracas on pit road to distract from the dominance of Martin Truex Jr., who led a career-best 464 laps in winning Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway and punched his ticket for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 race.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 20: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota, and William Byron, driver of the #24 UniFirst Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
For most of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, William Byron kept his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in or near the top-five.
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 14: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Dent Wizard Ford, takes the checkered flag ahead of Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 14, 2019, in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series returns to Talladega Superspeedway in what is possibly be the most gut-wrenching playoff race on the schedule. The point standings have been tight, and a superspeedway race can ruin many drivers’ chances of moving on. This year the aero-package has been extremely sporty on superspeedway tracks with speeds increasing this year compared to the previous years. This produces a faster pack, with a smaller margin for error.