Byron is the Surprise Winner of the Texas NASCAR Cup Race

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FORT WORTH, TX – RIS – William Byron laid low all day, but in the end, he won at Texas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series race.  The race was dominated by pole sitter Bubba Wallce and Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson, but the race dominated by crashes, left it to Byron to win on Sunday. Byron made a bold move off of a restart with six laps to go, going to the bottom of the track — making it three wide in the process — and clearing both leader Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain. He did not look back. The win gave car owner Rick Hendrick his 300th in the highest level of NASCAR.

Wallace led though the first round of pitstops. Austin Dillon would crash on lap 42 to bring out the first caution of the race due to a right rear wheel which came off while on track. It would not be long before the second caution came out for the spinning cars of Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman.

Wallace, who just got into the round of 12, started from the pole and led a career-high 111 laps to start the second round, but wound up third behind Byron and Ross Chastain, another playoff contender. Wallace moved up three spots to ninth in the standings, still one below the cutoff line when this round is done.

Despite concerns of a flat right front Kyle Busch opted to stay on track. That decision would prove costly as he would spin laps later hitting the wall damaging the rear of his car. Tyler Reddick would win the first stage of the race while Kyle Larson emerged as a threat to win in the second stage.

Chastain would deal with throttle problems in the third stage dropping him to the back of the field. Inside of 20 laps to go Larson would go around while trying to hold off Wallace. In the end, he finished second.

Denny Hamlin, racing with damage to his right side after being hit by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs on pit road, finished fifth and moved up to second in the playoffs standings. Chris Bueshcher is third and Christopher Bell fourth after his fourth-place finish.

Byron finished 1.863 seconds ahead of Chastain for his sixth win of the season, the most in the Cup series. For the first time since Texas opened in 1997, the race wasn’t scheduled for 501 miles, and was 100 miles shorter.

As we get down to the time to crown a champion, it seems every driver is impatient.  Larson was one, but there were many others.

n the end it was Byron who would get past Wallace on the final restart to claim his sixth race win of the season and the 10th of his career..Byron is now onto the Round of 8. The next Cup Series race will be at Talladega Superspeedway.

Unofficial Results: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400, September 24, 2023, Texas Motor Speedway
Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 18, William Byron (P), No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 267, 4, , 1, 6, 5, 47, Running
2) 5, Ross Chastain (P), No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 267, , 8, 1, 1, , 38, Running
3) 1, Bubba Wallace (P), No. 23 McDonald's Toyota, 267, 10, 9, 5, 111, , 37, Running
4) 9, Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 267, 3, , , , , 41, Running
5) 10, Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Toyota, 267, 9, 3, , , , 42, Running
6) 22, Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford, 267, , , , , , 31, Running
7) 3, Brad Keselowski (P), No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 267, , 7, , , , 34, Running
8) 8, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Kubota Chevrolet, 267, , 10, , , , 30, Running
9) 24, Ricky Stenhouse  Jr., No. 47 Kroger/NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet, 267, , , , , , 28, Running
10) 31, Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 267, 8, , , , , 30, Running
11) 29, Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, 267, 6, 6, 1, 1, , 36, Running
12) 14, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 267, , , 1, 1, , 25, Running
13) 28, Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 267, , , , , , 24, Running
14) 2, Chris Buescher (P), No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 267, 2, 5, 1, 2, , 38, Running
15) 17, Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's/Delo Ford, 267, 5, , , , , 28, Running
16) 19, Carson Hocevar(i), No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet, 267, , , , , , 0, Running
17) 16, Martin Truex  Jr. (P), No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 267, , , , , , 20, Running
18) 21, Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 267, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 26, Ty Dillon, No. 77 Shelton Companies Chevrolet, 267, , , 1, 3, , 18, Running
20) 30, Harrison Burton, No. 21 DEX Imaging Ford, 267, , , , , , 17, Running
21) 20, Joey Logano, No. 22 AAA Insurance Ford, 267, , , , , , 16, Running
22) 34, BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 Gunk Chevrolet, 267, , , , , , 0, Running
23) 25, Ryan Preece, No. 41 Autodesk Ford, 267, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 33, Zane Smith(i), No. 38 Ambetter Health Ford, 267, , , , , , 0, Running
25) 15, Tyler Reddick (P), No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 267, 1, , 1, 36, 1, 22, Running
26) 27, Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 262, , , , , , 11, Running
27) 32, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 261, , , 1, 1, , 10, Accident
28) 23, Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, 258, 7, 4, , , , 20, Accident
29) 6, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 255, , , 1, 1, , 8, Accident
30) 12, Erik Jones, No. 43 vseverybody.com Chevrolet, 255, , 2, 3, 3, , 16, Accident
31) 11, Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 248, , 1, 4, 99, 1, 16, DVP
32) 35, JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Patriot Mobile/Folds of Honor Ford, 241, , , 2, 2, , 0, Accident
33) 4, Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 77, , , , , , 4, Accident
34) 7, Kyle Busch (P), No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet, 73, , , , , , 3, DVP
35) 36, Todd Gilliland, No. 51 Biohaven/Jacob Co. Ford, 52, , , , , , 2, Accident
36) 13, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, 40, , , , , , 1, Accident
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Race Length: 267 Laps, 400.5 Miles
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 14 Mins, 28 Secs.
Average Speed: 123.569 MPH
Margin of Victory: 1.863 Seconds

Stage 1 Top 10: 45, 17, 20, 24, 34, 9, 12, 14, 11, 23
Stage 2 Top 10: 5, 43, 11, 12, 17, 9, 6, 1, 23, 99

Comments: William Byron won the 19th running of the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, his 10th victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Prior to the start, the following car dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reasons indicated: No. 78 (unapproved adjustments).

Cautions: 11 for 55 laps;
Laps: 43-48 (No. 3 Incident Turn 3 [31]);
50-53 (No. 10, 48 Incident Turn 2 [15]);
55-58 (No. 51 Incident Backstretch [None]);
75-79 (No. 8 Incident Turn 2 [78]);
82-86 (Stage 1 Conclusion [None]);
112-118 (No. 7 Incident Turn 2 [None]);
167-171 (Stage 2 Conclusion [78]);
210-214 (No. 99 Stopped on Track [2]);
244-247 (No. 19 Incident Turn 2 [99]);
250-254 (No. 5 Incident Turn 1 [78]);
257-261 (No. 12, 2, 38, 16, 45, 42 Incident Frontstretch [78]).

Lead Changes: 22 among 13 drivers;
B. Wallace (P) 1-38;
A. Allmendinger 39;
A. Bowman 40;
T. Dillon 41-43;
C. Elliott (P) 44;
B. Wallace (P) 45-57;
R. Chastain (P) 58;
B. Wallace (P) 59-76;
C. Buescher (P) 77-78;
T. Reddick (P) 79-114;
J. Yeley(i) 115;
B. Wallace (P) 116-142;
K. Larson (P) 143-167;
E. Jones 168;
A. Cindric 169;
K. Larson (P) 170;
E. Jones 171;
K. Larson (P) 172-210;
E. Jones 211;
J. Yeley(i) 212;
K. Larson (P) 213-246;
B. Wallace (P) 247-261;
W. Byron (P) 262-267. 

Unofficial Points: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400, Texas Motor Speedway
Rank Driver        Car   Starts        GL     Points        Ldr    Nxt    Race Wins  Stage Wins Playoff Pts
1) William Byron (P)       24     30     0       3083  0       0       6       8       41
2) Denny Hamlin (P)      11     30     1       3074  -9      9       3       7       32
3) Chris Buescher (P)     17     30     2       3059  -24    15     3       1       21
4) Christopher Bell (P)   20     30     3       3057  -26    2       1       4       16
5) Martin Truex  Jr. (P)  19     30     -3      3056  -27    1       3       6       36
6) Ross Chastain (P)      1       30     3       3049  -34    7       1       5       11
7) Brad Keselowski (P)   6       30     3       3045  -38    4       0       5       11
8) Kyle Larson (P) 5       30     -4      3039  -44    6       3       5       24
9) Bubba Wallace (P)      23     30     3       3037  -46    2       0       0       0
10) Tyler Reddick (P)      45     30     -2      3036  -47    1       2       5       15
11) Ryan Blaney (P)       12     30     0       3028  -55    8       1       3       8
12) Kyle Busch (P)         8       30     -6      3022  -61    6       3       2       19
13) Kevin Harvick 4       30     1       2102  -981  920    0       1       4
14) Ricky Stenhouse  Jr 47     30     1       2096  -987  6       1       0       5
15) Joey Logano   22     30     -2      2087  -996  9       1       3       8
16) Michael McDowell    34     30     0       2087  -996  0       1       2       7
17) Chase Elliott (P)       9       23     1       667    -2416 1420  0       1       0
18) Ty Gibbs #     54     30     -1      652    -2431 15     0       0       0
19) Daniel Suarez 99     30     0       643    -2440 9       0       0       0
20) Alex Bowman 48     27     0       612    -2471 31     0       0       0
21) AJ Allmendinger      16     30     0       572    -2511 40     0       0       0
22) Aric Almirola  10     30     0       529    -2554 43     0       1       0
23) Austin Cindric         2       30     0       508    -2575 21     0       1       0
24) Justin Haley   31     30     3       499    -2584 9       0       0       0
25) Ryan Preece   41     30     -1      498    -2585 1       0       1       0
26) Erik Jones     43     30     0       497    -2586 1       0       0       0
27) Corey LaJoie  7       30     -2      493    -2590 4       0       0       0
28) Todd Gilliland 51     30     0       456    -2627 37     0       0       0
29) Austin Dillon  3       30     0       421    -2662 35     0       0       0
30) Chase Briscoe 14     30     0       413    -2670 8       0       0       0
31) Harrison Burton      21     30     0       382    -2701 31     0       0       0
32) Ty Dillon        77     30     0       298    -2785 84     0       0       0
33) Noah Gragson         21     0       199    -2884 99     0       0       0
34) Cody Ware              7       0       65     -3018 134    0       0       0
35) Jenson Button                 3       0       45     -3038 20     0       0       0
36) Ryan Newman                  5       0       35     -3048 10     0       0       0
37) Andy Lally               4       0       32     -3051 3       0       0       0
38) Mike Rockenfeller             2       0       31     -3052 1       0       0       0
39) Travis Pastrana                1       0       26     -3057 5       0       0       0
40) Jordan Taylor(i)                1       0       16     -3067 10     0       0       0
41) Brodie Kostecki                1       0       15     -3068 1       0       0       0
42) Jimmie Johnson               3       0       12     -3071 3       0       0       0
43) Kimi Raikkonen                1       0       8       -3075 4       0       0       0
44) Jonathan Davenport                  1       0       1       -3082 7       0       0       0
45) Shane Van Gisbergen(i)              2       0       0       -3083 1       1       0       0
46) Josh Berry(i)           10     0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
47) JJ Yeley(i)      15     21     0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
48) Zane Smith(i)  38     7       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
49) Riley Herbst(i)          3       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
50) Carson Hocevar(i)    42     5       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
51) Austin Hill(i)            4       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
52) Chandler Smith(i)             2       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
53) BJ McLeod(i)  78     19     0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
54) Josh Bilicki(i)          8       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
55) Cole Custer(i)          6       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
56) Grant Enfinger(i)              1       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
57) Brennan Poole(i)               5       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
58) Conor Daly(i)           2       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
59) Gray Gaulding(i)               1       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
60) Sheldon Creed(i)               1       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
61) Anthony Alfredo(i)             2       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
62) Kamui Kobayashi(i)           1       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
63) Matt Crafton(i)                  1       0       0       -3083 0       0       0       0
 -Ldr/-Nxt = Points behind Leader/Next higher, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series