In a stunning turn of events at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, William Byron secured a surprise victory. Marking a historic milestone for Hendrick Motorsports with its 300th Cup Series win. However, the path to victory was not straightforward for the Rick Hendrick driver. As Byron’s crew chief revealed a clever strategy inspired by none other than Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Denny Hamlin.

For much of the race, it appeared that Kyle Larson would carry the torch for Rick Hendrick to their 300th victory. However, fate had other plans. A crash involving J. J. Yeley with 25 laps to go turned the race on its head. It was a moment that would set the stage for one of the most remarkable last restart comebacks in recent NASCAR history.

Rudy Fugle admits to taking a page out of Denny Hamlin’s pit strategy for the historic win

As Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe engaged in a thrilling battle for the lead during the final restart, William Byron waited for his moment to strike. With just six green laps remaining, Byron made a daring three-wide pass, securing the top spot and ultimately the victory. It was a move that would confirm him as the first playoff driver to advance to the Round of 8.

What made this victory even more remarkable was the pit strategy employed by Byron’s crew chief, Rudy Fugle. Fugle chose to keep Byron out after the J.J. Yeley wreck, placing immense faith in his driver’s hands. But there was a secret behind this strategy, one that Fugle openly admitted to after the race.

In a post-race media conference, Rudy Fugle revealed that he drew inspiration from Denny Hamlin. He explained that he observed Hamlin’s pit strategy. Which involved taking just two fresh tires to maintain a favorable position on the track. Fugle’s decision to keep Byron out meant that he would be on old tires. But he would also gain positions and climb to the front of the field. Setting the stage for the final, dramatic laps that led to victory.

In response to Wyatt Watson’s question about putting faith in William’s hands, Fugle stated, “Yeah, at that point in the race, I think that’s your best play with where we were. I think we were seventh or eighth. So if we pit with the majority of them, we’re going to be 18th or 20th. And it’s an okay call to pit if you’re going to be 10th or 11th. I think the 11 car was the first one on two rights, and he got close to the front.”

“But it worked out,” he added. “And it was a fairly easy call. We were just hoping with that long a laps on tires that everything was going to go okay and the air was going to stay in them and everything, so that was good.”

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After the race, Bob Pockrass spoke to Rick Hendrick about the monumental achievement for the team scoring its 300th win in NASCAR.

Rick Hendrick shared his thoughts on the team’s performance in reaching the 300 win milestone

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The celebration after the race was a testament to the excellence of Hendrick Motorsports. Team owner Rick Hendrick shared his thoughts on this significant milestone for the team, reflecting on their journey to 300 wins. Hendrick praised the team’s performance throughout the day and acknowledged Kyle Larson’s impressive driving skills. He stated, “Kyle was so strong I thought he’d just drive away. But Bubba ran him pretty hard there, and I guess he could have lifted a little bit, Kyle could have… That’s what Larson does. That’s what I love about him. He’s driving wheels off of every lap, and so real proud of him.”

Hendrick also commended William Byron’s success, highlighting his six wins in the current season and the team’s determination to finish the year strong.“But William Byron has six wins this year and seeing Chase (Elliott) up in the top-10 top-five in last two three races, that’s a good sign for you know. Finishing the year strong, winning the race. So yeah, I’d say I was hot… When I got off the box and then I thought my knees were weak after watching…”

Regarding the achievement of 300 wins, Hendrick confessed that he never thought they would reach this milestone. He mentioned the importance of staying competitive every week, a philosophy he has upheld since his early racing days. With the current lineup and dedicated team members, Hendrick expressed his belief that Hendrick Motorsports will continue to win many more races in the future.

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As the team continues to set records and define success, the future looks promising for the iconic racing organization that is Hendrick Motorsports.