FORT WORTH, Texas – Progress.
William Byron’s first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series trip to Texas Motor Speedway didn’t start off good as the reigning Xfinity Series champion experienced engine failure during practice on Friday.
The change of the engine in the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet meant that Byron would start his 500-mile race at Texas from the rear of the field.
Progressing his way through the field, Byron utilized pit strategy and a well-balanced Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to earn his first top-10 finish in his seventh Cup Series start.
“It was really good for us to get a top 10,” Byron said afterward. “We had a good car. Once the sun came out we weren’t quite as good, I don’t think, but starting in the back this was definitely a good day for us. We had a lot of adversity and kept having to go to the back. So, it’s good to come back from that and get a top 10.
Byron replaced Kasey Kahne at the start of the 2018 season and despite the hype that Byron could easily thrust his way into the headlines with sweeping performances, the Charlotte, N.C. has struggled to adapt to competing at the sport’s highest level.
On Sunday, however, Byron continued his learning curve with an exclamation point with his best finish since earning a 12th place finish at ISM Raceway (Phoenix).
“It feels awesome,” added Byron. “It feels great to get a top 10. It obviously takes a lot of things to happen. We didn’t quite have the speed we wanted to. We were really good in practice, but I think some of our weaknesses showed up when the rubber laid down on the track a little bit on the bottom groove.
“Overall it was a pretty good day and we can definitely build on this. Repaves are really treacherous and the restarts were so sketchy. I learned a couple of things with adjustments in the car to help for that and overall, I thought that green flag entries were good. Green flag stops, the guys did a good job.
“Overall, I thought it was pretty good. So, it was a pretty solid day. We had a ton of things happen, but I thought that we ended-up about where we should have.”
Next weekend, the Liberty University college student heads to Bristol Motor Speedway, where he earned 12th and 22nd place finishes respectively in Xfinity.
Byron also jumped two positions in the point standings from 20th to 18th – two spots shy of the Playoff cutoff spot in 16th.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
