WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — William Byron added to his season highlight reel earning his first career NASCAR Cup Series road course victory with a dominant win in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen at historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
It marks a career-best fifth victory of the season — tops in the NASCAR Cup Series and most for him in a single season in a six-year career in NASCAR’s top series. And the 25-year-old Charlotte native had to earn this one, holding off another championship challenger, Denny Hamlin by a healthy 2.632-seconds for the win. Byron led an impressive 66 of the 90 laps, extending his advantage over the field each lap of the final 10 lap-run to the checkered flag.
kAm“*629[ x H@F=5 92G6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE E92E 2 =:EE=6 3:E E9@F89[’’ qJC@? D2:5 H96? 2D<65 :7 96 76=E =:<6 :E H2D 9:D >@DE 5@>:?2?E C246 H:?] “qFE :E 567:?:E6=J 766=D C62==J 8@@5[ ;FDE 2 9F86 4C65:E E@ E96 C246 E62> 369:?5 >6] x H2?E E@ E92?< |2I !2A:D] |J 7:CDE C@25 4@FCD6 H:? 2?5 H6 H@C<65 J62CD 2?5 J62CD 7@C E9:D]k^Am
kAm“%92?<D E@ 2== E96 8FJD @? E96 E62>] x 5:5 2 =@E @7 =2AD @? :#24:?8 E9:D H66<[ 8@E 2 ?6H D:>F=2E@C 2E 9@>6] xE’D 2 8C62E H:?] xE D9@HD H96? H6’C6 2E @FC 36DE H6 42? A6C7@C> =:<6 E9:D]’’k^Am
kAmqJC@?[ H9@ H@? $E286 a @? $F?52J[ ?@E65 E96 E:>:?8 :D :>A@CE2?E 2D E96 D6C:6D 9625D :?E@ E96 !=2J@77D]k^Am
kAm“(6 D66> E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E92E DF>>6C D=F>A :? yF=J 2?5 pF8FDE 2?5 7@C D@>6 C62D@? H6 ;FDE 42?’E AFE E96 C246D E@86E96C[ x E9:?< :E’D E96 C246 EC24<D E96>D6=G6D] qFE E9:D H66<6?5[ H6 42>6 H:E9 2 8@@5 >:?5D6E 2?5 7@4FD65 @? 86EE:?8 C625J 7@C E96 A@DED62D@?] (6’G6 925 72DE 42CD ;FDE 92G6?’E 6I64FE65 C246D[ 3FE E@52J H2D 7=2H=6DD]”k^Am
kAmw2>=:?’D CF??6C\FA 7:?:D9 <66AD E96 }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D C68F=2C D62D@? 492>A:@?D9:A DE:== FA 7@C 8C23D] w6 EC2:=D 9:D y@6 v:33D #24:?8 E62>>2E6 |2CE:? %CF6I yC][ H9@ 7:?:D965 D:IE9[ 3J bh A@:?ED 9625:?8 :?E@ ?6IE H66<’D s2JE@?2 C68F=2C\D62D@? 7:?2=6]k^Am
kAmy@6 v:33D #24:?8 5C:G6C r9C:DE@A96C q6== 7:?:D965 E9:C5 H:E9 z2F=:8 #24:?8’D p]y] p==>6?5:?86C 2?5 yv#’D %J v:33D C@F?5:?8 @FE E96 E@A 7:G6]k^Am
kAm%CF6I[ #@FD9\u6?H2J\z6D6=@HD<: #24:?8’D r9C:D qF6D496C[ ab)x #24:?8’D %J=6C #655:4<[ %62> !6?D<6 E62>>2E6D #J2? q=2?6J 2?5 y@6J {@82?@ C@F?565 @FE E96 E@A `_]k^Am
kAm(:E9 7:?:D96D @7 `dE9 2?5 a`DE[ C6DA64E:G6=J[ #@FD9\u6?H2J\z6D6=@HD<: #24:?8 @H?6C^5C:G6C qC25 z6D6=@HD<: 2?5 $E6H2CE\w22D #24:?8 5C:G6C z6G:? w2CG:4< 3@E9 =@4<65 E96>D6=G6D :?E@ E96 a_ab !=2J@77D 32D65 @? A@:?ED] %92E =62G6D @?=J @?6 A@D:E:@? E@ 36 564:565 :? ?6IE $2EFC52J ?:89E’D C68F=2C D62D@? 7:?2=6 2E s2JE@?2 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $A665H2J]k^Am
kAmab)x #24:?8’D qF332 (2==246 D@=:5:7:65 9:D 9@=5 @? E92E 2==\:>A@CE2?E `eE9 A=246 :? E96 A@:?ED DE2?5:?8D E92E 4@F=5 2FE@>2E:42==J EC2?D76C 9:> :?E@ 9:D 7:CDE !=2J@77 36CE9] p=E9@F89 (2==246 4@?4656D C@25 4@FCD6 C24:?8 :D ?@E 9:D DEC@?86DE DF:E[ 96 5:5 6I24E=J H92E 96 ?66565 E@[ EFC?:?8 :? 2 ?@?\5C2>2E:4[ 4@?D:DE6?E 52J] (2==246[ H9@ D2:5 96 925 2 G2=F23=6 A9@?6 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 D:I\E:>6 x?5Jr2C $6C:6D 492>A:@? $4@EE s:I@? 367@C6 E96 C246[ 62C?65 A@:?ED :? 3@E9 DE286D] p?5 9:D `aE9 A=246 7:?:D9 H2D 9:D 36DE C@25 4@FCD6 7:?:D9 @7 E96 7:G6 CF? D@ 72C E9:D D62D@?]k^Am
kAmw6 ?@H 9@=5D 2 ba\A@:?E 25G2?E286 @? E96 y@6 v:33D #24:?8 C@@<:6 v:33D 2?5 2 cb\A@:?E 25G2?E286 @? %C24<9@FD6 #24:?8’D s2?:6= $FáC6K]k^Am
kAm“yFDE 6I64FE65 C62==J[’’ (2==246 D2:5[ ?@E:?8 E92E ?@ ?6H C246 H:??6C $F?52J 46CE2:?=J 96=AD 9:D 42FD6 :? AFCDF:?8 9:D 7:CDE 6G6C !=2J@77 36CE9]k^Am
kAm“x’> AC@F5 @7 >JD6=7 2?5 E92E’D E96 7:CDE E:>6 x’G6 76=E AC@F5 @7 >JD6=7 27E6C 2 C@25 4@FCD6 C246] yFDE 6I64FE65 2?5 5:5?’E =@D6 7@4FD[ >2J36 @?6 E:>6] p?5 E92E’D E96 5:776C6?46\>2<6C] *@F’G6 8@E E@ DE2J @? :E :? E96D6 A=246D] w2ED @77 E@ >J E62> 7@C DE:4<:?8 H:E9 >6 2?5 36=:6G:?8 :? >6]k^Am
kAm“vC62E 52J 7@C E96 ab\E62>[’’ 96 25565] “}@H H6 86E E@ 8@ :?E@ s2JE@?2[ DE:== DEC6DD7F= 2D 96== 3FE :E E2<6D 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 E96 6586 @77]’’k^Am
kAm~? E96 7=:A D:56 @7 7@CEF?6[ :E H2D 2 EC@F3=6D@>6 52J 7@C EH@ @7 E96 @E96C 9:89\AC@7:=6 E62>D DE:== ?665:?8 E@ C246 E96:C H2J :?E@ E96 FA4@>:?8 !=2J@77D 2?5 ?665:?8 2 C246 H:?]k^Am
kAmw6?5C:4< |@E@CDA@CED’ r92D6 t==:@EE[ E96 7:G6\E:>6 2?5 C6:8?:?8 |@DE !@AF=2C sC:G6C :? E96 }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D[ 42>6 :?E@ E96 C246 2=C625J 56A6?5:?8 @? 2 9:89 DA665 w2:= |2CJ @7 D@CED] w6 H2D g_ A@:?ED 369:?5 (2==246 2E E96 8C66? 7=28] qFE t==:@EE’D E62> H2D D=@H65 3J 2? F?492C24E6C:DE:4 7F6= >:D42=4F=2E:@?] w:D }@] h w6?5C:4< |@E@CDA@CED r96GC@=6E C2? @FE @7 7F6= H:E9 ab =2AD C6>2:?:?8[ DE@AA65 @?\4@FCD6 2?5 3C@F89E @FE 2 42FE:@? 7=28 E@ AFD9 9:> 324< E@ A:E C@25 7@C 2 7F6=\FA]k^Am
kAmt==:@EE C6EFC?65 E@ C246 2 =2A 5@H? 2?5 7:?:D965 ba?5 2?5 :D ?@H a`DE :? E96 DE2?5:?8D]k^Am
kAm%96 E9C66\E:>6 s2JE@?2 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $A665H2J A@=6D:EE6C H:== ?665 E@ 62C? 9:D 7:CDE H:? 2E E96 DFA6CDA665H2J E@ 25G2?46 E@ E96 !=2J@77D E9:D D62D@? 2?5 <66A 9:D 6:89E\J62C CF? @7 492>A:@?D9:A 6=:8:3:=:EJ 8@:?8] t==:@EE 92D EH@ CF??6C\FA 7:?:D96D 2E s2JE@?2[ :? E96 a_a_ DF>>6C C246 2?5 E96 a_a` s2JE@?2 d__] w6 7:?:D965 ahE9 :? E96 DF>>6C C246 E96C6 =2DE D62D@?]k^Am
kAmt==:@EE H2D?’E >256 2G2:=23=6 E@ 4@>>6?E 27E6C E96 C246]k^Am
kAm“%92E’D D@CE @7 E96 28@?J @7 2 7@FC\42C E62> H96? @?6 42C 5@6D D@ H6==[’’ w6?5C:4< |@E@CDA@CED 6I64FE:G6 y677 v@C5@? D2:5 @7 E96 52J 2E %96 v=6?] “xE ;FDE D9@HD J@F 42?’E >2<6 2?J >:DE2<6D]k^Am
kAm“&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ H6 925 D@>6 >:DE2<6D[’’ 96 25565[ “r=62C=J :E H2D 2 >:D\42=4F=2E:@? H:E9 E96 h 42C ,t==:@EE. 2?5 E92E H2D 9F86]”k^Am
kAm%C24<9@FD6 #24:?8’D s2?:6= $FáC6K DE2CE65 E96 52J @?=J @?6 A@D:E:@? @FE @7 E96 E@A `e — ag A@:?ED 369:?5 (2==246] qFE $FáC6K H2D E96 7:CDE @7 E9@D6 @? E96 !=2J@77 3F33=6 E@ 6?4@F?E6C :DDF6D — 8@:?8 @77\4@FCD6 2E E96 72>@FD “3FD DE@A” A@CE:@? @7 E96 (2E<:?D v=6? 4@FCD6 2?5 3CFD9:?8 E96 H2== @?=J 7:G6 =2AD :?E@ E96 C246]k^Am
kAm%96 @77\4@FCD6 6I4FCD:@? 5C@AA65 9:> 7C@> `_E9 A=246 2E E96 E:>6 E@ acE9 :? E96 7:6=5 2?5 96 925 E@ A=2J 42E49\FA 2== 52J[ F=E:>2E6=J 7:?:D9:?8 aa?5] w6 8@6D :?E@ E96 s2JE@?2 D62D@?\7:?2=6 ?6IE H66< cb A@:?ED @FE @7 E96 E@A `e 2?5 2=D@ ?665:?8 2 G:4E@CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 C@@<:6 v:33D 24EF2==J :>AC@G65 9:D DE2?5:?8 2>@?8 E9@D6 DE:== H:E9:? !=2J@77 C6249 2D E96 C68F=2C D62D@? 4=@D6D] %96 5C:G6C @7 E96 }@] dc y@6 v:33D #24:?8 %@J@E2 — H9@ =65 2 C246 36DE f_ =2AD :? $2EFC52J’D }p$rp# )7:?:EJ $6C:6D C246 2E (2E<:?D v=6? — C2? 2>@?8 E96 E@A 7:G6 2== $F?52J 27E6C?@@? 2D H6==] w:D 7:7E9 A=246 7:?:D9 $F?52J H2D 36DE 2>@?8 E9@D6 :? E96 4=@D6 7:89E 7@C 2 !=2J@77 36CE9] w6 8@6D E@ s2JE@?2 q6249 ba\A@:?ED 369:?5 (2==246 2?5 ?665:?8 2 H:?]k^Am
kAm“x 76=E =:<6 H6 H6C6 C62==J 72DE[’’ E96 a_aa }p$rp# )7:?:EJ $6C:6D 492>A:@? v:33D D2:5] “x ;FDE 5:5?’E 5@ 2 8@@5 ;@3 @7 86EE:?8 E9C@F89 E96 8FJD :? 7C@?E @7 FD] x 766= =:<6 H6 H6C6 >F49 72DE6C E92? E9C66 @7 E96> :? 7C@?E @7 FD 2?5 x ;FDE 4@F=5?’E 86E 3J E96>]”k^Am
kAm~7 9:D >@G6 :?E@ `fE9 A=246 :? E96 DE2?5:?8D[ 2?5 A=24:?8 9:>D6=7 @? E96 4FDA @7 2 !=2J@77 36CE9[ v:33D D2:5[ “x 5@?’E C62==J <?@H H92E >:?5D6E E@ 92G6 8@:?8 E96C6 ;FDE E@ DE2J 4=62? 2?5 ECJ E@ >2<6 :E E@ E96 6?5 2?5 92G6 2 8@@5 7:?:D9]’’k^Am
kAm%96 }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D C68F=2C D62D@? 7:?2=6 E@ D6E E96 a_ab `e\5C:G6C !=2J@77 7:6=5 E2<6D A=246 2E E96 s2JE@?2 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $A665H2J H:E9 $2EFC52J ?:89E’D ’D r@<6 +6C@ $F82C c__ Wf A]>][ }qr[ |#}[ $:C:FD)| }p$rp# #25:@X] pFDE:? s:==@? :D E96 5676?5:?8 C246 H:??6C] #:4<J $E6?9@FD6 yC] H@? E96 s2JE@?2 d__ :? u63CF2CJ]k^Am
Recommended for you
Scenes from the Hands for Humanity Donation Day and Locust Grove High School Band Christmas Concert held Friday at Locust Grove High School. Click for more.PHOTOS: Hands for Humanity Donation Day and Christmas Concert at Locust Grove High School
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.