William Byron is steering away from any controversy. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is in contention for the Bill France Cup at Pheonix Raceway and is looking to keep the events that transpired in Martinsville behind him. With NASCAR penalizing teams through docked points and heavy fines because of ‘race manipulation’ at the season’s penultimate race, it’s not surprising that the 26-year-old is eager to remain out of the mix ahead of the high-stakes race.

Even though Byron’s place in Championship 4 was controversial, the driver wants to remain focused on the winner-take-all championship race. He finished fourth at Phoenix Raceway last year and will hope to go all the way this season.

William Byron distances himself from race manipulation controversy

It all came down to William Byron and Christopher Bell. With just one point separating the two, the stakes got higher as the race progressed, with other drivers also joining in to decide the Championship 4’s outcome. Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 Chevy was struggling with long-run speed because of damage to the car’s toe-link, which meant that drivers Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon provided their assistance during the closing laps, despite being from different teams. Both of them ran double-wide, ensuring no driver could overtake Byron, who went on to finish sixth when the checkered flag was waved.

After the race, NASCAR launched an investigation for race manipulation and fined all teams involved $100,000 and 50 points each. When asked by FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass if William Byron felt guilty as other drivers were penalized for helping him, the 26-year-old deflected the question, insisting his focus remains on performing well at Phoenix Raceway. He said, “I just raced as hard as I could. I was just looking out the front windshield, trying to hit my corner every lap and hit the curb at the bottom. I was just out there racing my heart out and it seemed like all the controversy was around me. I felt like that meme of the burning house. For me, I was just out there racing as hard as I could.”

While NASCAR does allow teammates to assist each other during the race, it does not encourage multi-team cooperation because of a shared manufacturer. As per NASCAR’s rules, each driver must attempt to finish the race in the highest position they can, but in this instance, both Chastain and Dillon were unwilling to overtake fellow Chevy racer William Byron, finishing just behind him when the checkered flag was waved. An RCR crew member was heard saying on the team radio, “If we pass him, he’ll be out” and the No. 3 team was heard wondering if Chastain’s crew chief Phil Surgen knew about “the plan.”

Teams associated with Chevrolet were not the only manufacturers found guilty at Martinsville Speedway. Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing were also at the receiving end of NASCAR’s wrath after the penultimate Cup Series race.

Driving the No. 23 car, Wallace was heard saying on the team radio, “I think I’ve got a tire going down,” after which he slowed down significantly, allowing fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell to make the pass, who needed to gain a spot to remain in contention for the title. Ultimately, the sanctioning body issued the same penalty while suspending team executive Dave Rogers, crew chief Robert Barker, and spotter Freddie Kraft.

Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman optimistic about Byron’s chances

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It’s been quite a year for Hendrick Motorsports, hasn’t it? NASCAR’s most successful team completed 40 years in the sport and managed to have all four drivers in the playoffs. With William Byron locked into the Championship 4, the team is in a good position to potentially secure their 15th Bill France Cup. However, with the stakes higher than ever, lifting the silverware may come down to Byron’s ability to win the race. While the 26-year-old can secure a win, momentum isn’t on his side, as the driver has gone 28 races without entering Victory Lane.

Sharing his expectations ahead of the championship race, HMS vice chairman Jeff Gordon said, “Of course, you want to win, but at the same time sometimes you get yourself in a position where you’ve got to figure out what do I need to do to advance to the next round. Sometimes, doing that takes you out of taking some of the risks to put yourself in a position to win. This weekend, it’s just all or nothing. It’s throw it all out there, make the aggressive calls, aggressive set ups, and be aggressive on the race track as well if you’re going to win the championship. And they’re ready to do that.”

Despite not firing on all cylinders, William Byron has shown great consistency recently, finishing inside the top six in his last few appearances. If recent results are anything to go by, they highlight that the North Carolina native and crew chief Rudy Fugle have what it takes to pull off a clutch result at Phoenix Raceway. Byron’s experience from last year could also play in his favor, as he knows all about the pressure and expectations in the winner-take-all race. Can the No. 24 team take home the championship in the team’s 40th anniversary season? Time will tell.