William Byron Holds Off Charging Ty Gibbs to Win the Pole for Echopark Automotive Grand Prix at COTA

William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports has won the pole position for the Echo Park Automotive Grand Prix Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas. Driving the #24 Chevrolet car, Byron clocked the quickest lap of 2:09:64 during the final rounds of qualifying. This was enough for him to grab the pole for the first road course race of the season. On the back of this pole win, the HMS driver will now be eyeing his second win for the season after the Daytona 500 triumph. Joining Byron on the front row will be #54 JGR driver, Ty Gibbs.

The Toyotas have continued their good runs from the short-track races and delivered in the first road course challenge at COTA. Out of the ten cars taking a shot at the pole position in the final round, six of them were Toyota and the rest of the four entries were Chevrolet cars. Surprisingly, Ford cars were unable to get into the mix.

Here’s how the top 10 drivers set the field for the race in COTA

The first road course race of the NASCAR Cup Series season is here, and it’s fair to say the Toyota Camry drivers are one to watch out for. However, as far as qualifying is concerned, William Byron will be setting the tone for tomorrow’s race in the pole position. Having already aced his Group B qualifying rounds, the #24 driver managed to steer his car with the quickest lap on what was a tricky racing surface at COTA in the final qualifying round.

Ty Gibbs by JGR could have very much taken the pole from Byron, but a late error coming off the final turn proved to be costly. He will be starting in the second position. Tyler Reddick, among the favorites to win the event, will start in the second row alongside Christopher Bell. Corey LaJoie sealed the fifth starting position.

Joining La Joie in the third row will be Ross Chastain in the number six position. Whereas Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin secured seventh and eighth place for tomorrow’s start. Rounding off the top 10 positions, we have Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace in ninth and tenth.

After winning the pole for the race at COTA, Byron is looking forward to continuing the momentum tomorrow by registering his second win for the season.

The Circuit of the Americas is turning out to be Byron’s favorite race track

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Most NASCAR drivers usually fancy their chances on the short-track ovals or the superspeedways, as they are the preferred venues. However, it seems like the road course venue at COTA is growing on the HMS driver, William Byron. He set a new track record in round one of qualifying at 2:09.114 and is now hoping to cross the finish line just before anyone else.

“Guys we are on the pole here at the Circuit of the Americas. Really looking forward to the race, this is becoming one of my favorite tracks. But it’s definitely in the race, so just trying to manage the tires and stay up front till the end,” Byron said after the qualifiers. The HMS driver has been on the pole at the racetrack before but hasn’t been able to convert it into a win. His best finish at the venue was #5, which came last season.

While Byron has all the skills to back himself to win the race, it will be a daunting task for him to battle against Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick in the Toyota car.

Read More: “Go Out There and Wreck” – COTA Favorite Tyler Reddick Talks About the Sentiments of Fans Depending on Him