There was only one way that William Byron could advance to the Championship 4 round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
He had to win Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Byron knew it, and he did what he had to do to earn a chance to race for a championship.
Driving the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Byron pushed Ryan Blaney up the track to take the lead with only 44 laps remaining.
From there, Byron held off Blaney to set up a Hendrick Motorsports Vs. Joe Gibbs Racing championship weekend.
Byron will be joined by his Hendrick teammate, 2021 champion Kyle Larson with the two pitted up against Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe.
Larson is the only driver of the four, who has won the Cup Series championship.
