NASCAR News: Byron leads Hendrick 1-2-3 at Martinsville

Hendrick Motorsports’ history at Martinsville Speedway added another memorable chapter to its library Sunday evening, with the ruby-colored No. 24 of William Byron taking home the cherished grandfather clock in NASCAR Overtime.

Kyle Larson finished runner-up, with Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five. Hendrick’s 1-2-3 finish marked the first time any racing team finished 1-2-3 at the Virginia short track.

Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe completed the top 10. All four Hendrick Chevrolets finished inside the top 10 at Martinsville for the first time since June 2020 and the sixth time overall.

Series points leader Martin Truex Jr., whose fourth-place finish last weekend at Richmond Raceway came after holding a late-race lead, finished 18th.

In front of a throng of employees and supporters gathered in tents overlooking Turn 2, Hendrick became the only organization to sweep the podium positions in a Cup race at Martinsville. Byron’s victory was the 29th for Hendrick Motorsports at the track, most for an organization at a single NASCAR venue.

“Just so proud of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports,” Byron said. “Grew up a big Hendrick fan. To be here for the 40th anniversary, all that goes into just this organization, all the people, it’s all about the people. Just want to thank Mr. Hendrick and (wife) Linda and everyone involved.

“It’s pretty awesome. Bad-ass to win at Martinsville. We’ve been struggling at the short tracks. Just kept inching up on it. I’ve got a great team. They just kept my head in it. It stunk to do a restart there at the end like that, but that’s the way it goes.”

An early green-flag pit stop proved the difference for the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, who earned his third victory of the season, his second at Martinsville and the 13th of his career.

With Denny Hamlin in the lead, crew chief Rudy Fugle called Byron to pit road on Lap 297 as the first of the lead-lap drivers to get fuel and fresh tires. Hendrick teammates Kyle Larson, the pole winner, and Chase Elliott followed a lap later.

The early stops allowed the Hendrick drivers to leap-frog Hamlin, who pitted on Lap 299 and could not advance past the fourth position before caution for John Hunter Nemechek’s accident in Turn 4 on Lap 398 of 400 sent the event to overtime.

On Lap 310, Byron passed Elliott for the ninth position, and as the drivers ahead of him made pit stops, he worked his way forward, passing Daniel Suarez for the lead on Lap 327 before Suarez came to pit road.

Byron led the next 86 laps, and after Elliott was credited with leading Lap 413 at the overtime restart, Byron surged ahead for the final two circuits and crossed the finish line 0.550 seconds ahead of Larson.

“Congrats to William,” said Larson, who won the first 80-lap stage wire-to-wire. “He did a really good job. Kind of schooled us all there after that green flag stop. Did a really good job passing all of us. He was able to set a good pace, still get through traffic good.

“My car felt really good. I think we were all kind of the same speed, honestly. Just lost a little bit of track position there in the second stage. Was never able to overcome it.”

Byron held a lead of more than two seconds before the fifth and final caution of the race. On the overtime restart, he survived a bump from Elliott, who slipped to third behind Larson at the finish.

Bubba Wallace ran fourth, followed by reigning series champion Ryan Blaney. Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe completed the top 10. Hamlin pitted for fresh tires before the overtime, restarted 10th and came home 11th.

“We were just trying to do anything we could to steal one with our Sport Clips Toyota,” Hamlin said. “The tires didn’t wear enough to matter. We saw that when Joey (Logano) stayed out on those 80-lap lefts and led most of the stage (Stage 2).

“Tires didn’t wear, and we just struggled to pass all day. Once I came out of that cycle, third or fourth, that’s kind of just where I stayed.” 

Larson, who led 86 laps, took over the series lead by 14 points over Martin Truex Jr., who finished 18th on Sunday, and by 17 over Hamlin.

The only negative aspect of the Hendrick party was the absence of the team owner, who underwent knee replacement surgery and couldn’t attend. But NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was there to serve as grand marshal and represent the organization.

“These guys, these three guys, as well as Bowman, they drove their butts off,” Gordon said. “How about that William Byron, the 24 car? Every time we have a milestone day or opportunity or moment, he steps up.

“He got number 300. This is going to be a huge win for him and the whole organization.”

William Byron

William, the celebration all weekend long for Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary. You get the job done. You’re the one standing here. What does it mean to you, to Rudy and this entire team?

WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, I just want to thank Chase for racing me clean there. Could get really physical at the end. He gave me a shot, which is expected. We all finish it off.

Just so proud of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. Grew up a big Hendrick fan. To be here for the 40th anniversary, all that goes into just this organization, all the people, it’s all about the people. Just want to thank Mr. Hendrick and Linda and everyone involved.

It’s pretty awesome. Bad ass to win at Martinsville. We’ve been struggling at the short tracks. Just kept inching up on it. I got a great team. They just kept my head in it. It stunk to do a restart there at the end like that, but that’s the way it goes.

Rudy decides under green flag conditions to bring you down pit road first. That got you the track position. Then two laps to go, the caution comes out. How did you handle all that?

WILLIAM BYRON: That was a great call. It didn’t get us the track position right away. But we had a little bit more heat in our tires. Seemed like it fired off a little bit faster than those guys, was able to get ahead of ’em. We had a great car in the third stage, first and third stage.

Want to thank all the 24 fans. Thanks for sticking with us. Super excited. I don’t really know how to put it in words. I’m a little tired. I hit the wall over there. I hit the wall a lot this weekend. I don’t know why (smiling).

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson comes home in the runner-up position. You always want to win a race. With the circumstances today, this is pretty special?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, no doubt. Really special, too, to get a 1-2-3 there with William, Chase and I. Yeah, just a great day for Hendrick Motorsports. It’s been a great 40 seasons for them. Really cool to have 1,500 people here from Hendrick Motorsports to celebrate.

Congrats to William. He did a really good job. Kind of schooled us all there after that green flag stop. Did a really good job passing all of us. He was able to set a good pace, still get through traffic good.

My car felt really good. I think we were all kind of the same speed, honestly. Just lost a little bit of track position there in the second stage. Was never able to overcome it.

Solid day. Congrats to Rick Hendrick, Linda, all of Hendrick Motorsports. Everybody here at the racetrack, as well as back at home. Awesome day.

Racing teammates at the end, how nerve-wracking is that?

KYLE LARSON: It was sketchy. I wasn’t sure how aggressive they were going to be. I knew William obviously was going to be very aggressive ’cause he was going to win until that caution came out. He went in there and doored ’em up a little bit.

Yeah, just thankfully it all kind of shook out and we were able to get one spot there and get a number three for HMS.

Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott, part of this 1-2-3 today. Gave everything you had on the last restart.

CHASE ELLIOTT: Second or third, what does it matter? Yeah, obviously number one, congrats to William and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. Rick and Linda, all the folks. Jeff and Jeff and Chad, all the people that put this together for us. They have an unbelievable program. I think we’re all proud to call it home.

It was awesome hosting over a thousand folks from Hendrick today, employees and their families. Glad one of us could get it done. Obviously wish we could have got it done, selfishly like anybody would.

Nice to have a couple solid weeks, to be in contention there for a win. Haven’t been in contention to win one in a while. It was fun to kind of get to that last restart and it actually mattered. Enjoyed that aspect. Certainly hungry for more.

You mentioned being in contention. The 9 team starting to hit their stride. How good does that feel?

CHASE ELLIOTT: Yeah, no, the last couple weeks, really not just the last couple weeks, but I feel like throughout a lot of the season this year, we’ve been working in a good direction, working really good together. Pit stops have been really good. Alan has been calling really good races. All that stuff has been going in a really positive direction, in my opinion.

I think if we can just keep producing that, we’ll get our turn one day.

Martinsville Race Results