William Byron emerged victorious at the Daytona 500 in a nail-biting final lap under caution. He clinched the win on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, maintaining full throttle throughout the race.
Starting from pole position, Byron put on a dominant performance in NASCAR’s initial road course event of the season. Driving for Hendrick Motorsports, he led for 42 out of 68 laps, securing a substantial lead to withstand a late surge from Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing in the final two laps.
Despite Bell’s rapid advancement, Byron managed to maintain his lead through the last corners, preventing any chances of overtaking.
“I was focused on avoiding mistakes,” Byron remarked. “I knew he’d be pushing hard on that last lap.” Even as he extended his lead, Byron remained aware that securing victory would be challenging. “Everyone is highly skilled, and his car was getting closer,” Byron noted.
As a self-taught racer who honed his skills using computer equipment, Byron celebrated his 12th career win, marking his second victory on a road course.
The Circuit of the Americas, originally designed for Formula One races, has hosted NASCAR’s first road course event for the past four years. In contrast to the crash-filled race of 2023, Sunday’s event was largely free of incidents, allowing Byron to dominate the competition effortlessly.
