William Byron’s Daytona 500 Three-Peat Faces Major Setback

William Byron battles back after crash before Daytona 500 start. [Image Source: CATCHFENCE]
Sonia Mcmillan

William Byron, who has won the last two Daytona 500 races, is on the verge of making history as the first driver to win three consecutive Daytona 500s. However, his quest encountered a significant obstacle during Thursday night’s Duel race at Daytona, where a multi-car crash forced Byron to start Sunday’s race from the back of the field.

On lap 57 of Duel 1, Byron’s #24 Chevrolet was involved in a collision with several drivers including Bubba Wallace and Austin Dillon. The crash severely damaged Byron’s car, resulting in a 22nd-place finish and necessitating the use of a backup vehicle for the Daytona 500. This setback complicates Byron’s pursuit of a historic third straight victory in NASCAR’s premier event.

Details Behind the Crash in the Duel Race

The incident began as Bubba Wallace, driving the #23 Toyota, pushed forward into the lead pack with assistance from Austin Dillon’s #3 car. The momentum caused Wallace’s car to spin unexpectedly, sparking chaos among the tightly grouped cars. Byron was running sixth, positioned on the outside lane, when he saw Wallace’s vehicle become unstable on the inside track.

Byron tried to avoid the spinning cars, but eventually he was struck by Chris Buescher’s #17 car, which had already begun to lose control. Attempting to contain his car against the outside wall, Byron was hit once more by Buescher and spun out.

William Byron
Image of: William Byron

I kinda straightened it out up against the wall and then they [Buescher] hit me again, and it spun, so just a bummer,

Byron said.

While Wallace and Dillon managed to finish the Duel, both Byron and Buescher were unable to continue, with Byron officially recording a 22nd-place result. Joey Logano emerged as the winner of Duel 1, boosting his starting position for the main event.

William Byron’s View on Switching to a Backup Car

The damage to Byron’s primary Raptor Chevrolet was extensive enough to require a shift to a backup car for the upcoming Daytona 500. Despite this challenge, the 28-year-old driver remains calm, having previously won the Daytona 500 using a backup vehicle after a Duel crash in 2024.

We’ve won this race with a backup car, so I’m not super worried about that aspect, but it does suck that you put a lot of work into the primary and you don’t get to race it,

Byron expressed.

The shift to a backup car means losing out on showcasing the capabilities of Chevrolet’s newly introduced body style for the NASCAR Cup Series, which debuted this season on the updated Camaro ZL1. Byron was unable to push the primary car as much as he hoped during the Duel to fully test its handling under pressure.

I didn’t really push, or get pushed, as much as I would’ve liked. Honestly, it looked like a lot of the cars were just super unstable getting pushed and I noticed that from the beginning. It just seemed like guys were moving around a lot. My car felt fine, but I never got a chance to get up there and control it,

Byron noted.

What Lies Ahead for Byron in the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 is set for Sunday, February 15, with the green flag dropping at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. Despite starting near the back due to the Duel incident and car change, Byron remains a strong contender based on his previous successes and experience. With Hendrick Motorsports backing him and his solid track record, Byron’s effort to secure a historic third consecutive victory is far from over.

This setback highlights the unpredictable and competitive nature of NASCAR, where even top drivers face unexpected challenges. Fans and analysts will closely watch how Byron adapts and navigates through the field, aware that overcoming this adversity could make a potential three-peat even more remarkable.

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