DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron’s attempt to secure a third straight Harley J. Earl Trophy in the 2026 Daytona 500 encountered serious obstacles early in the race on Sunday. Despite significant damage sustained in multiple incidents, Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet team demonstrated resilience and strategic racing to secure a 12th-place finish, kicking off the NASCAR Cup Series season on a solid note.
Early Collision Sparks Major Setback for No. 24 Team
The trouble began on Lap 5 when BJ McLeod’s spin resulted in a multicar crash that involved Byron and other competitors. Byron’s vehicle collided with Justin Allgaier’s car, forcing the Chevy off the track and into the wall, damaging the right front suspension severely. He described the handling challenges, stating,
“Our right-front suspension was bent, so our car was tracking weirdly and super loose and tight at the same time.” ?William Byron, NASCAR Driver
Despite the damage, Byron managed to climb back to the 13th position by the end of the first stage, maintaining a competitive pace among cars that had made multiple pit stops.
Confronted by Another Large Wreck, Byron Endures Further Damage
Byron’s day worsened with a massive 20-car pileup on Lap 122, triggered when Allgaier lost control near Denny Hamlin. The No. 24 car was caught in the thick of the chaos, sustaining additional damage, but Byron’s team made multiple pit stops to make repairs and keep him in contention as the race progressed.
Strategic Pit Stops Keep Byron Among Leaders Late in the Race
As the field stretched fuel tanks and jockeyed for position, Byron remained in the lead draft. During a critical round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 188, he was among seven drivers to pit, positioning him well for the final laps when a crash among three Toyotas with nine laps to go bunched the field once again.
Byron briefly found himself at the front of the pack, helped by a push from Brad Keselowski, but he acknowledged the difficulties holding that spot given the car’s condition and track dynamics. He reflected,
“I thought I was in the catbird seat. I felt everyone was going to continue to block and move up off the bottom. I had Brad, who is a really good pusher, with me. I’m like, ‘man, this could be perfect. We could get lined up, and I might get pushed too far out front.’ It didn’t materialize that way. The bottom was a struggle all day.” ?William Byron, NASCAR Driver
“All of those guys blew past us, even when we were connected and pushing. Unfortunate, but I don’t feel like I could have taken the top lane and hung on to my car — it was pretty beat up.” ?William Byron, NASCAR Driver
Final Lap Drama and Byron’s Evasive Maneuvers Secure a Top-15 Finish
The closing moments of the 500-mile race featured two separate incidents, including the race leader Carson Hocevar being turned in front of the pack during the final lap’s first turn. Byron was forced to slow and navigate sharply to avoid the melee, dropping below the yellow line before reentering the track surface and maintaining control despite hitting the apron. This effort earned him a 12th-place finish, marking his first top-15 in the Daytona 500 since his back-to-back victories.
Byron Reflects on the Team’s Resilience and Future Prospects
Despite the setback ending his winning streak in this marquee event, Byron viewed the performance as a strong start to a 36-race season and a sign his team remains competitive. Addressing his late-race opportunity, he said,
“I couldn’t believe we had a shot at the end. I thought now I have a shot lining up on the front two rows. That’s all you can ask for, really. I got (Tyler Reddick) out to a decent lead on the restart, and the bottom was the place to be. There was one time I got clear and probably could have taken the middle, but I didn’t know if my car could handle the pushes up there. I had to keep my car straight, so I felt if I went to make a block, I would wreck.” ?William Byron, NASCAR Driver
“The Lap (5) crash, I thought, was going to be the end of our competitive day, and we did a good job patching it up.” ?William Byron, NASCAR Driver
William Byron’s performance reinforces the importance of adaptive racing strategy and resilience under pressure, critical elements as he and the No. 24 team continue their pursuit of success in the demanding 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
