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William Byron gave team owner Rick Hendrick something extra to celebrate in the 40th anniversary year of Hendrick Motorsports. In a frantic scramble after a restart on lap 197 of 200 in the Daytona…
William Byron’s victory in the 40th anniversary year of Hendrick Motorsports at the Daytona 500 gave team owner Rick Hendrick reason to celebrate. Byron crossed the finish line just before the race was called due to a caution caused by a chaotic incident involving Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric. This win marked Hendrick Motorsports’ first triumph in the Daytona 500 since 2013, with Alex Bowman finishing closely behind Byron for a one-two finish. The victory was Hendrick’s ninth in the Daytona 500, tying the company with Petty Enterprises for the most wins in NASCAR Cup Series history. Byron, at 26 years old, expressed his disbelief and dedication to his sick father following the emotional win.
Hendrick was elated in Victory Lane, reflecting on the significance of the victory on the organization’s 40th anniversary. A multi-car incident before the final restart, initiated by contact with Byron, sidelined several top contenders, including Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. The race was red-flagged for cleanup, with Logano acknowledging the challenging nature of speedway racing. Despite the incident, Byron expressed pride in his team’s performance and their determination to continue their success throughout the season.