Byron, the youngest of the Championship 4 drivers at 25 years outdated and along with his first alternative to win a title, received the pole for Sunday’s season finale in Saturday’s qualifying session at Phoenix Raceway.
That alone gave the impression to be a very good signal. Within the three earlier seasons the championship race had been held at Phoenix, the pole winner had gone on to win the collection title.
Byron took benefit early in Sunday’s race, main all 60 laps and profitable Stage 1 and remained out entrance till he was run down by Kevin Harvick for the lead on lap 93 of 312.
After that, nevertheless, whereas Byron remained up entrance and battling his fellow title contenders for the rest of the race, he led simply three extra laps, the final time on lap 277. He ended up fourth within the race and third among the many Championship 4 contenders.
“As soon as the observe rubbered in, we received actually tight,” Byron mentioned. “Particularly once we misplaced the lead on observe, we simply had an enormous stability shift and received tight again in second by way of fifth, simply couldn’t acquire a whole lot of pace by way of (Turns) 1 and a couple of, simply form of having to essentially over-slow the automotive, get it to the underside.
“That’s all we had there. Simply actually pleased with our crew, nice season. It stinks to come back up quick. I’d prefer to suppose we’re going to be again on this place and we’re going to have extra photographs at it.”
The 2023 season was a breakout one for Byron, who drives the No. 24 Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports. He led the collection with six wins, led the second-most laps and tied for probably the most top-five finishes (15) and received 4 poles.
Whereas he received the spring race at Phoenix, Byron had had some issue on the collection’ shorter tracks along with his greatest end a ninth at Bristol, Tenn., in September.
“We simply received to maintain engaged on the quick observe program for us. It was positively the powerful a part of our season,” Byron mentioned. “I felt like we introduced a very good automotive this weekend. Actually till the observe form of modified, I believed we have been within the sport.
“Yeah, that was simply all we had there.”
A disappointing finish to a powerful yr
Contemplating the energy of his season and the way he and his crew began Sunday’s race, Byron admitted Sunday’s end was “a little bit of a letdown.”
“As quickly as we received into Stage 2, we have been attempting to determine how will we handle what we’ve, possibly make it slightly bit higher if we will. However we simply want extra on the quick tracks,” he mentioned. “We simply struggled as a crew on the quick tracks.
“We had a terrific season, so much to be pleased with, a whole lot of actually stable races, speaking nicely as a crew. I really feel like all that stuff can simply go up a notch hopefully, simply have a bit extra pace at sure tracks that we all know are vital.”
