P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Byron holds off late charge from Bell to win NASCAR Cup race at COTA
Byron dominated Sunday’s race, leading five times for 42 of the 68 laps on his way to his second win of the 2024 season. He held off Christopher Bell to earn the 12th victory of his career. Byron and Kyle Larson have combined to win three of the season’s first six races. Ty Gibbs finished third, Alex Bowman fourth, and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five. Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen ended up 21st due to a pit road speeding penalty. Kamui Kobayashi finished 30th after being involved in several on-track incidents.
Bell won Stage 1 by over 19 seconds, and Denny Hamlin secured his first stage victory of 2024 in Stage 2. Byron overshot Turn 1 on a restart but reclaimed the lead with 25 laps to go. Chase Elliott received a penalty for cutting the course, while Bell spun Kyle Larson. Byron cycled back into the lead after the final pit stops on lap 51 with a considerable advantage. Byron managed to hold off Chastain’s spirited challenge and secure the win, expressing gratitude for his team’s efforts and enjoying the victory.
