William Byron Tentatively In Championship 4 Pending Ruling On Manufacturer Orders
2 weeks agoWilliam Byron didn't necessarily need to win at Martinsville to advance to the Championship 4, but if a driver below the cutline won, Byron needed to overcome a 22-point deficit to Christopher Bell, which seemed unlikely. Byron ran well and led 51 laps but got overtaken by Kyle Larson on the lap 406 restart and fell through the pack because he had older tires than the drivers chasing him. However, Bell got trapped a lap down after a botched pit stop and pit strategy and finished 18th on track to Byron's 6th, tying him in points. Although Bell held the tiebreaker, he was penalized four positions for an illegal wall ride. This tentatively handed Byron the playoff spot, but he could possibly lose it if NASCAR decides to penalize Chevrolet for forcing Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain to remain behind Byron to protect his position.
Source: Racing Reference
Source: Racing Reference