The 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, led 93 of 400-scheduled laps and prevailed during a late pit stop and two late-race restarts to notch his first Cup victory of the 2023 season.
From a showcase to some of NASCAR's best and the return of strategy to road courses to some of NASCAR's dumbest, here's Three Big Stories from Circuit of the Americas.
The two-time Xfinity Series champion from Corning, California, led a race-high 41 of 75 over-scheduled laps and outlasted the field through three overtime attempts for his first win of the 2023 Cup season in Austin.
William Byron had the car to beat Saturday at Circuit of The Americas. He topped the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with a lap of 130.76 seconds at 93.882 mph to earn the Busch Light Pole Award at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile track.
The reigning two-time Cup Series champion from Middletown, Connecticut, led a race-high 140 of 260-scheduled laps and executed a final lap pass on former teammate Brad Keselowski to claim his first Cup victory of the 2023 season and at Atlanta.
Team Penske driver, Joey Logano, was fastest in qualifying Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway and won the Busch Light Pole Award with a 177.374 mph lap in his No. 22 Ford. It is Logano’s second pole this season, his second at Atlanta and his 28th career pole.
The 25-year-old Byron from Charlotte, North Carolina, led 64 of 317 over-scheduled laps and prevailed in two late-race restarts, including one in overtime, to fend off teammate Kyle Larson and nab second consecutive Cup victory in the desert valley.
Kyle Larson was fasted in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying and claimed the Busch Light Pole Award for Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500. He led the session in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with a 130.237 mph lap, earning his second career pole at Phoenix Raceway and his 15th career pole.
Michael Strahan has been named honorary Pace Car driver for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The National Motorsports Press Association announced the 2024 Most Popular Driver Awards on Friday evening at the NASCAR Awards Banquet at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Chase Elliott returned to victory lane and the playoffs this year, delighting his fan base that once again rewarded him with the National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver award.
