Byron Captures COTA Pole

(AUSTIN, TX – MAR 25, 2023 – RIS) William Byron set the fastest lap in Round Two of qualifying for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. In setting the pole clocking, Byron somewhat atoned for his penalty for cutting the course Friday, costing him the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity race.

William Byron jumped to the top of the Group 1 sheet early with a lap of 2:11.746, but Erik Jones, last year’s winner at the Southern 500, then clocked a lap a thin 68 thousandths of a second quicker than Byron’s and setting a new track class record. F1 star Jenson Button had his Ford bumped out of the top ten in the group by a last-second charge from Noah Gragson, Legacy Motor Club’s second car and partner to Jones. “We didn’t change much,” said Jones, adding that he just studied the way other drivers were attacking the course. Christopher Bell was seventh in the quickest Toyota in Group 1.

Michael McDowell spun into the gravel but continued while Austin Cindric clipped a big fraction off the (old) new record with a lap of 2:11.215 while visiting Jordan Taylor, substituting for Chase Elliott, jumped into second in the group, also 68 thousandths behind Cindric. Just under ten minutes into the session, Tyler Reddick leaped into the top spot with a blazing lap of 2:10.305 for almost a full second gap ahead of Cindric. Kyle Busch went back on track for a second effort and bumped his way into fifth for a slot in the second round of qualifying.

Running for the top ten, Jordan Taylor was the sole non-regular, but in a regular entry, as he is in the Chase Elliott No. 9 Chevy for the road courses until Elliott recovers from a broken leg suffered in a snowboarding accident. 

In the second round, William Byron picked up a second over his round one time, at 2:10.760 and 93.882 mph, with Tyler Reddick 0.138 second slower for the second spot and Austin Cindric ahead of Taylor for the second row in the grid. Reddick’s second group fast time in round one of qualifying remains as the track qualifying record.

Time Trial Results: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas
Round 1A
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet, 2:11.678, 93.227 mph, 1, 1, ---, ---
2) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 2:11.746, 93.179, 1, 1, 0.068, 0.068
3) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Farmsmart Chevrolet, 2:11.861, 93.098, 4, 4, 0.183, 0.115
4) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 2:11.884, 93.082, 2, 2, 0.206, 0.023
5) Noah Gragson #, No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet, 2:11.909, 93.064, 4, 4, 0.231, 0.025
6) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 2:12.039, 92.973, 1, 1, 0.361, 0.130
7) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 2:12.112, 92.921, 1, 2, 0.434, 0.073
8) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 He Gets us Toyota, 2:12.323, 92.773, 1, 3, 0.645, 0.211
9) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Blue Buffalo Chevrolet, 2:12.359, 92.748, 3, 3, 0.681, 0.036
10) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 2:12.500, 92.649, 3, 3, 0.822, 0.141
11) Jenson Button, No. 15 Mobil 1 Ford, 2:12.559, 92.608, 1, 3, 0.881, 0.059
12) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford, 2:12.869, 92.392, 3, 3, 1.191, 0.310
13) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, 2:12.929, 92.350, 3, 3, 1.251, 0.060
14) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, 2:13.218, 92.150, 1, 3, 1.540, 0.289
15) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 78 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 2:13.274, 92.111, 2, 2, 1.596, 0.056
16) Ty Dillon, No. 77 Ferris Commercial Mowers Chevrolet, 2:13.567, 91.909, 1, 4, 1.889, 0.293
17) Conor Daly*, No. 50 BitNile.com Chevrolet, 2:13.792, 91.754, 4, 4, 2.114, 0.225
18) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Knauf Ford, 2:20.865, 87.147, 1, 1, 9.187, 7.073
19) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 3:0.392, 67.306, 1, 1, 50.714, 41.527

Round 1B
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 2:10.305, 94.210 mph, 1, 1, ---, ---
2) Jordan Taylor, No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet, 2:11.020, 93.696, 3, 3, 0.715, 0.715
3) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2:11.215, 93.556, 1, 1, 0.910, 0.195
4) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2:11.401, 93.424, 1, 3, 1.096, 0.186
5) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Netspend Chevrolet, 2:11.413, 93.415, 1, 3, 1.108, 0.012
6) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 MoneyLion Toyota, 2:11.498, 93.355, 1, 3, 1.193, 0.085
7) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 2:11.562, 93.310, 3, 3, 1.257, 0.064
8) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 2:12.125, 92.912, 1, 3, 1.820, 0.563
9) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 2:12.219, 92.846, 1, 2, 1.914, 0.094
10) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 2:12.401, 92.718, 1, 3, 2.096, 0.182
11) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 2:12.498, 92.650, 2, 3, 2.193, 0.097
12) Kimi Raikkonen*, No. 91 Onx Homes/iLOQ Chevrolet, 2:12.526, 92.631, 3, 4, 2.221, 0.028
13) Justin Haley, No. 31 Celsius Chevrolet, 2:12.539, 92.622, 2, 4, 2.234, 0.013
14) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 2:12.575, 92.597, 4, 4, 2.270, 0.036
15) Ryan Preece, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 2:12.629, 92.559, 4, 4, 2.324, 0.054
16) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 OpTic Gaming Chevrolet, 2:12.756, 92.470, 1, 4, 2.451, 0.127
17) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 2:12.781, 92.453, 2, 4, 2.476, 0.025
18) Jimmie Johnson*, No. 84 Club Wyndham Chevrolet, 2:12.938, 92.344, 1, 1, 2.633, 0.157
19) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ruedebusch Ford, 2:14.038, 91.586, 1, 1, 3.733, 1.100
20) Cody Ware, No. 51 PublicSq Ford, 2:14.858, 91.029, 2, 2, 4.553, 0.820

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 2:10.760, 93.882 mph, 1, 2, ---, ---
2) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 2:10.898, 93.783, 1, 1, 0.138, 0.138
3) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2:11.352, 93.459, 1, 1, 0.592, 0.454
4) Jordan Taylor, No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet, 2:11.754, 93.174, 1, 1, 0.994, 0.402
5) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 2:11.905, 93.067, 1, 2, 1.145, 0.151
6) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2:12.127, 92.911, 2, 2, 1.367, 0.222
7) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Farmsmart Chevrolet, 2:12.228, 92.840, 1, 1, 1.468, 0.101
8) Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet, 2:12.230, 92.838, 1, 1, 1.470, 0.002
9) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Netspend Chevrolet, 2:12.459, 92.678, 1, 1, 1.699, 0.229
10) Noah Gragson #, No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet, 2:13.162, 92.188, 1, 1, 2.402, 0.703

Starting Line Up: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 2:10.760, 93.882 mph
2) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 2:10.898, 93.783
3) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2:11.352, 93.459
4) Jordan Taylor, No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet, 2:11.754, 93.174
5) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 2:11.905, 93.067
6) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2:12.127, 92.911
7) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Farmsmart Chevrolet, 2:12.228, 92.840
8) Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet, 2:12.230, 92.838
9) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Netspend Chevrolet, 2:12.459, 92.678
10) Noah Gragson #, No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet, 2:13.162, 92.188
11) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 MoneyLion Toyota, 2:11.498, 93.355
12) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 2:11.562, 93.310
13) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 2:12.039, 92.973
14) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 2:12.112, 92.921
15) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 2:12.125, 92.912
16) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 2:12.219, 92.846
17) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 He Gets us Toyota, 2:12.323, 92.773
18) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Blue Buffalo Chevrolet, 2:12.359, 92.748
19) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 2:12.401, 92.718
20) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 2:12.498, 92.650
21) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 2:12.500, 92.649
22) Kimi Raikkonen*, No. 91 Onx Homes/iLOQ Chevrolet, 2:12.526, 92.631
23) Justin Haley, No. 31 Celsius Chevrolet, 2:12.539, 92.622
24) Jenson Button, No. 15 Mobil 1 Ford, 2:12.559, 92.608
25) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 2:12.575, 92.597
26) Ryan Preece, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 2:12.629, 92.559
27) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 OpTic Gaming Chevrolet, 2:12.756, 92.470
28) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 2:12.781, 92.453
29) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford, 2:12.869, 92.392
30) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, 2:12.929, 92.350
31) Jimmie Johnson*, No. 84 Club Wyndham Chevrolet, 2:12.938, 92.344
32) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, 2:13.218, 92.150
33) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 78 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 2:13.274, 92.111
34) Ty Dillon, No. 77 Ferris Commercial Mowers Chevrolet, 2:13.567, 91.909
35) Conor Daly*, No. 50 BitNile.com Chevrolet, 2:13.792, 91.754
36) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ruedebusch Ford, 2:14.038, 91.586
37) Cody Ware, No. 51 PublicSq Ford, 2:14.858, 91.029
38) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Knauf Ford, 2:20.865, 87.147
39) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 3:02.392, 67.306
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (*) Must qualify on time

Track Qualifying Record: William Byron 03/25/23 2:10.760 93.882
Track Race Record: Ross Chastain  03/27/22 3:20:57 70.253