As the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue, William Byron is approaching his next challenge at Kansas Speedway with a healthy dose of caution. In a recent press chat, he expressed the resilience of his team, stating, as highlighted by NASCAR.com:
“What makes our group strong is we’ve unified during this time, even though we’re not performing at our best just yet. Now’s the moment to step up.”
Byron’s playoff run hasn’t gone as smoothly as he hoped. His best finish in the Round of 16 was just ninth at Atlanta, a significant drop from his prior playoff success. This is only the second time in his career that he hasn’t cracked the top five in the first three playoff races, with the last comparable dip occurring in 2019.
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This Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, Byron will need a strong showing at Kansas to keep his playoff hopes alive. This race serves as a precursor to the challenging events at Talladega and the Charlotte road course.
Byron’s past performances at Kansas have been hit-or-miss. In 13 outings, he finished 15th and 23rd in his last two races. Reflecting on these challenges, he remarked:
“We faced some early issues in both races. I felt we had the speed, but mistakes and mishaps, like spinning out in the first stage or crashing in qualifying, hampered our results.”
Going into the Round of 12, Byron maintains fourth in the standings, 14 points clear of the elimination zone. This reset offers him a fresh start, and his team is ready to make the most of it.
“Kansas is a crucial track to gauge speed and execution; pit stops play a significant role here,” he noted. “With the potential for stage points, a solid top-five performance can really set us up well.”
Byron is confident in his team’s preparation, stating, “We’ve consistently shown our potential over the past year and a half, and I’m excited for the upcoming race. I believe we’re ready to perform.”