The NASCAR season is ramping up, and the spotlight is once more on Hendrick Motorsports. William Byron won his fifth race of the season at Watkins Glen and his first ever on a road course. However, as the playoff battle draws to a close, the focus is on the two Hendrick drivers who are outside the playoff bubble. With both Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman struggling to secure a playoff spot, William Byron reveals his strategy regarding the unlucky duo, and how he would want to contribute in Daytona.

In a post-race conference after Watkins Glen, Byron acknowledged that superspeedways provide a prime opportunity for assistance due to the tight racing conditions. He’s prepared to go all in to support his teammates and potentially secure another Hendrick Motorsports car in the playoffs.

William Byron ready to aid Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman at the Daytona Superspeedway

The playoff picture is becoming clearer, with playoff spots filling up and only one coveted position left. The NASCAR world turns its attention to the unpredictable restrictor plate racing at the Daytona Superspeedway, following a roller-coaster weekend at Watkins Glen, where Elliott and Bowman faced a disappointing 32nd and 23rd place finish, respectively. Even more so than the #48 driver, fans are wishing for a change of fortunes for Elliott, who, despite being among the favorites to win at The Glen, fell victim to some questionable strategic decisions by his crew chief, Alan Gustafson.

In the post-race conference at Watkins Glen, Zach Sturniolo of NASCAR.com asked Byron, “Looking ahead to Daytona now, obviously Chase and Alex are both on the outside looking in. How does Hendrick Motorsports approach that going into Saturday night’s race?”

“Yeah, I mean, just try to help those guys as much as we can,” said Byron. “Superspeedways is really the place that we can help the most… All the other tracks, it’s tough to help, unless you’re just really equal and battling it out. But superspeedways is a chance, everyone is really close there. Hopefully, we can push those guys when we need to. I intend on being aggressive there and just making sure all my belts are tight and make sure we’re ready to go.”

The seemingly unstoppable momentum of Hendrick Motorsports we witnessed earlier in the season has waned, leaving Elliott and Bowman on the brink of playoff elimination. Following Byron’s responses, all eyes are now set to see which of the two cars, #9 or #48, finds the favor of the other two teams.

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After seeing two of its drivers missing out on a total of 11 races, Hendrick Motorsports now faces the trickiest question yet. With only one playoff spot remaining and both Elliott and Bowman needing a win to make the cut, there are some hard decisions to be made. The dynamics intensify further with the possibility of a new winner emerging in Daytona, with the potential to knock both drivers out of contention.

In the absence of a new winner, a points battle looms, and currently, 23XI Racing‘s star driver Bubba Wallace holds the 16th spot with a 32-point lead over Ty Gibbs in 17th place, making him the favorite to lock himself into the playoffs. Moreover, it is at Superspeedways that Wallace is at his best, and he is certain to get some help from Team Toyota.

The pressure is mounting as the final race approaches, and the fate of these Hendrick Motorsports drivers hangs in the balance. The team that was once a frontrunner is now facing the possibility of leaving two of its cars out of the playoffs. With high stakes and intense competition, the path to the playoffs is fraught with uncertainty for the Hendrick Motorsports stable.

Who do you think will clinch the final playoff position? Will it be Chase Elliott, will it be Alex Bowman, will it be Bubba Wallace, or are we going to have a completely unexpected entry into the playoffs? Share your thoughts and predictions with us in the comments section below.

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