CONCORD, N.C. – William Byron enters the Round of 8 finale of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Martinsville Speedway in an advantageous position. The driver of the No. 24 PODS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 holds a 30-point lead on the elimination line.
Earning a spot in the Championship 4 would be a first for Byron in the Cup Series. The deepest he has gone in the postseason has been the Round of 8 (both this year to date and last year).
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"We spent this week digging through notes from earlier this year and last at Martinsville (Speedway)," Byron said for how he and the team have prepared for this weekend’s race. "There was a wheel force test last week running the new tire so the teams could get information. We’re just trying to use what we have to hopefully get the car in a good place for when it’s unloaded.
"The fun thing about racing is you’re trying to get to the final four to go for a championship but it comes down to we all want to win every week. When you peel away all the layers of racing, it’s all about winning. We do the same processes every week with the goal of winning. That’s our number one goal still, and there’s nothing like having winning momentum heading into Phoenix (Raceway)."
While Byron has had a great 2023 season with series-best marks in wins (six), stage wins (eight) and top-10 finishes (20), he has elevated his consistency over the last 10 races. In that stretch (from Watkins Glen International to the Homestead-Miami Speedway playoff race), he leads the series in points (413), top-five finishes (six), top-10s (nine) and average finish (5.30). The Charlotte, North Carolina, native, is tied for the most wins (two) and runner-up finishes (two) in that span. He also holds the second-best average running position in the playoffs (8.53).
Heading to Martinsville, the Virginia short track has been a strong one for Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle. In their five races together at the 0.526-mile track, they have posted a win (April 2022), three top-five finishes, four top-10s, 221 laps led and an average finish of 8.00.
PHOTOS: Look back at every race win for Hendrick Motorsports at Martinsville
This is the second year that Byron comes into the Martinsville race with a chance to advance to the title round. Last year, he carried a five-point advantage on the cutline but came up a little short in his bid to reach the title round. That disappointment has served as motivation throughout the season for Byron.
"Just the way we felt at Martinsville (Speedway) and how that moment felt is what we will try to work on this year," Byron said. "I think we learned a lot in that pressure situation (last year) and given that same situation again we will do a lot better."
The No. 24 pit crew has been at the top of the board all year when it comes to the fastest average four-tire pit stop time. They lead the series at 10.940 seconds and further improved their numbers last weekend with the fastest average four-tire stop time (9.986 seconds) at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
"They give us a lot of confidence, especially when we are in contention for wins and in contention to run up front," Byron said of his pit crew. "The guys seem to elevate their game when those moments happen. They have been consistent all season."
EVERY ANGLE: See the No. 24 PODS Chevy for Sunday's race at Martinsville
Byron is looking to become the fifth Hendrick Motorsports driver to reach the Championship 4 in the elimination playoff era (joining Jeff Gordon in 2015, Jimmie Johnson in 2016, Chase Elliott in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and Kyle Larson in 2021 and 2023). Larson is already locked in with his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to open the Round of 8.
Tune in on Sunday, Oct. 29, to watch Byron and the No. 24 team push forward in the playoffs at Martinsville. Coverage of the 500-lap race will be at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).