William Byron Wins at Martinsville, Hendrick Sweeps Podium

William Byron drove from 18th to victory in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

RIDGEWAY, Va. — William Byron and his No. 24 team continue to add to an incredible start to their 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season efforts.

Despite starting 18th in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, there was an air of quiet but genuine confidence from the 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native. After Byron and the Hendrick Motorsports organization struggled in the first race of the new short track and road course package introduced at Phoenix Raceway last month, the 14-time Cup championship winning team went to work.

“We just race with what we have and try to do the best job with it,” Byron said before the first on-track sessions at Martinsville. “I feel that the short track package to start out this year was an adjustment for us. It was a lot different at Phoenix. And so we we just had to adjust our setup and accommodate for that.

“But I feel like last weekend, we started getting back solid, good speed from everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. So I feel like we’re back in the realm we need to be. So we just got to keep building.”

Kyle Larson led the opening laps of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville and won Stage 1. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

All across the board, the Hendrick quartet of Byron, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman had fast Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s for the seventh race of the year. Once Larson led the way in Stage 1, he remained in the lead, winning the Playoff point but just barely ahead of Bubba Wallace, Elliott, Chase Briscoe and Martin Truex Jr.

Meanwhile, lurking in the distance was Byron, placing eighth and netting three stage points. On a day when passing was difficult and track position came at a premium, Byron truly had a rocketship at the 0.526-mile short track.

While Byron remained in eighth position in Stage 2, the Toyotas flexed their muscles with Denny Hamlin, the Bristol and Richmond race winner, claiming the valuable Playoff point ahead of Wallace and Larson.

Although Byron placed eighth, it became clear to his No. 24 Axalta Ruby Red Chevrolet team, led by crew chief Rudy Fugle, that they had a good, adjustable car. When it came down to the real, hard work in Stage 3, Byron, Fugle and the No. 24 team were absolutely focused.

With Byron working his way up the leaderboard, Elliott and Hamlin waged in their own wars for the lead between Laps 253 to 298 just as pit stop cycles ensued. Timing was everything for the final stops of the day as Byron opted to pit on Lap 297, taking advantage of fresh tires ahead of those pitting later into the final stage.

The fresh tires proved optimal for Byron, Elliott and Larson as they drove past Hamlin and anchored into the podium spots for the final 86 laps. Not even a Lap 398 caution for John Hunter Nemechek’s Turn 3 accident would derail such a prospect for Hendrick Motorsports, even with Jeff Gordon in disbelief from Larson’s pit box.

Even with Elliott briefly taking the lead on Lap 413, Byron had the winning mount for this Sunday tussle, muscling his teammate for the lead and victory. Byron bested Larson, who passed Elliott on the final lap, by 0.55 seconds.

Last October, Byron gave it all he had to fight for a Championship 4 spot with a 13th place finish. On Sunday afternoon, the fruits of his hard work in the gym and mental preparation paid off alongside his No. 24 team’s efficient work.

There was no stopping William Byron and his No. 24 Axalta Ruby Red Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

“Yeah, it’s awesome and it’s way bigger than me,” Byron said. “There are so many men and women that this is a tribute to with all the hard work in the shop. It’s just a really good environment to work in. They have built something so special over the years, and I am thankful to be a part of it and drive the No. 24. It’s pretty special.”

Considering the battle scars adorning Byron’s No. 24 ride, the 2024 DAYTONA 500 champion considered the hard work to even get in a position to win for a third time this season.

“It wasn’t pretty. The first stage, we were pretty good, coming from the back and getting up to eighth or ninth,” he recalled. “And then we stalled out. We had a couple of pit stops not go our way and then we got too tight.

“We just had to keep working on that and we eventually got this No. 24 Axalta Chevy where it needed to be; get it turning and doing what it needed to do. Just really proud of the team.”

As for Larson, who scored a runner-up result, the defending Cook Out 400 winner, he acknowledged how Byron’s No. 24 team were methodical in timing their final pit stop of the afternoon, the difference maker of the race.

“Yeah, it pretty alright I guess,” Larson said. “We had great track position from qualifying, so I was able to maintain that all race and get that Stage 1 win, which was great. We kind of just lost a few spots there in Stage 2 and was never really able to overcome that small track position loss.

“But William, he did a really good job. He was able to pass cars and they pitted a lap before we did during the green-flag cycle. I really thought that helped him carve his way to the lead because his tires were just ready before ours were. He did a good job; kind of schooled us all and deserved to win. So that was really cool to see him win.”

Although Elliott’s winless streak continues to 42 races, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native had a strong performance with pure pace and grit prevalent with the 2020 Cup champion.

“Obviously number one, congrats to William and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports,” Elliott said. “Rick and Linda, Jeff (Gordon), Jeff (Andrews), Chad (Knaus) and all the people that put this together for us. They have an unbelievable program and I think we are all proud to call home.

“It was awesome hosting over 1,000 people from Hendrick today; employees and their families. Glad one of us could get it done. Obviously wish we could have got it done, selfishly, like anybody would.”

For the second time in William Byron’s Cup career, he is a Martinsville winner, capturing the Cook Out 400 victory on Sunday. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

On a day that the Hendrick organization and family will remember for the next 40 years, Byron gave the most successful stock car team something to smile about even with the brief, tense battle for the win on the Overtime restart.

“I knew the shot was going to come from behind and that is just the way it is here,” Byron said. “I used a little bit more of the racetrack in (Turns) 1 and 2 to make sure I could get clear off of 2 and he gave me a shot over there. We raced pretty clean. He gave me a chance to make the corner and that is all you can ask for.”

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Kyle Larson
2. Bubba Wallace
3. Chase Elliott
4. Chase Briscoe
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Joey Logano
7. Denny HamlinW
8. illiam Byron
9. Josh Berry (R)
10. Kyle Busch

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Bubba Wallace
3. Kyle Larson
4. Chase Elliott
5. Joey Logano
6. Alex Bowman
7. Chase Briscoe
8. William Byron
9. Ross Chastain
10. Josh Berry (R)

Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway Race Results