Byron dominated at Charlotte, leading 283 of 400 laps with three stage wins, but couldn't hang on as Ross Chastain passed him for the lead with five laps remaining.
The reigning O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion led a race-high 156 of 200 laps and swept all three stages en route to a dominant victory in the desert state and to assume a 36-point lead in the Chase standings.
Reigning world champ Dallas Glenn made the quickest run in Pro Stock history in front of a massive crowd on Saturday at Texas Motorplex, taking the No. 1 qualifying position with a world-record run at the Texas NHRA FallNationals.
The 2023 Cup Series champion from High Point, North Carolina, posted a single qualifying lap at 137.143 mph in 26.250 seconds for his fifth Cup pole of 2026 and the 17th of his career in the desert state.
Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Phoenix Raceway.
The reigning O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion from Menlo Park, California, clocked in a pole-winning lap at 131.694 mph in 27.336 seconds for his second pole of 2026 at the desert state.