Martinsville was “our worst race of the 12 months”

Ryan Blaney scored 19 out of a attainable 20 stage factors, whereas Byron scored zero. He remained mired again within the pack, struggling to get a deal with on his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

He ended up ending thirteenth, one lap down, however that was simply sufficient. He superior by simply eight factors over Denny Hamlin.

“Clearly we weren’t excellent,” Byron stated post-race. “Our worst race of the 12 months. These guys deserve it a lot. They work so exhausting. Actually, most likely with 50 to go I felt actually, actually unhealthy. I simply had did drive the hell out of it. The fellows caught with me, they saved motivating me by means of little bits and items, simply form of retaining my thoughts straight.

“I am simply actually grateful for them. It was simply, yeah, a slugfest. Everybody raced me there good on the finish. Congrats to Ryan [Blaney]. I used to be actually completely satisfied for him, brother-in-law. He was actually quick. However, man, we simply needed to dangle on. Simply needed to dig a bit of bit deeper.

“I knew after I received out of the automobile I used to be simply beat. However the consequence means greater than something. These guys work so exhausting. We have labored so exhausting all season. I am simply actually pleased with them. ”

Byron might be a part of the Championship 4 for the primary time in his profession. His greatest factors consequence till now was sixth in 2022.

He’ll now face his Hendrick Motorsports team-mate Kyle Larson, in addition to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Group Penske’s Ryan Blaney within the title-decider at Phoenix Raceway.

The newest winner of a Cup Sequence race at Phoenix? Effectively, that occurs to be Byron, who gained there in March of this 12 months. Blaney completed second, Larson fourth, and Bell sixth.