NEWS

Saturday, September 30, 2017

 

Race 28 of 33: Use Your Melon. Driver Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway

Track Specs: 1-mile concrete oval / 200 laps

Weather: Mostly Cloudy; 64 degrees

Race Winner: Ryan Blaney

Byron's Finish: 3rd

 

William Byron captured his ninth top-five finish of the 2017 season on Saturday afternoon after finishing third at Dover International Speedway in the No. 9 Axalta/Central Aluminum Chevrolet. The 19-year-old won the pole award for the 200-lap event, his second pole this year. Byron jumped three positions in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship point standings and is now sitting second, three markers behind the leader. 

 

The Axalta Chevrolet was strong in qualifying, finishing each round in the first position. Byron chose the outside lane for the initial start and maintained the lead throughout Stage One. When the first caution was shown on lap 7, Byron remained quiet on the radio and restarted from the first position on lap 14. The caution flag was shown five laps later and Byron told the team that his Chevrolet was a lot better. Throughout the remainder of the stage, Byron maintained position and collected a stage win and one bonus point for the playoffs. Following the stage, the driver radioed to the team that his car was too tight on that cycle and the team pitted for four tires, fuel and a small air-pressure adjustment. 

 

Byron restarted second in Stage Two, after the No. 22 of Ryan Blaney was able to leave pit road ahead of the No. 9. Shortly after taking the green flag, Byron relayed that his machine was free to start off. Stage Two went caution free and the Axalta Chevy finished the stage in the second position. At the end of the stage, Byron reported tight conditions at the end of the run, but too free taking off. Crew chief Dave Elenz called Byron to pit road for four tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment. Byron restarted second on lap 128. 

 

One lap after taking the green flag, teammate Justin Allgaier got around Byron for the second position. Byron was running third on lap 150 and would maintain that position for the remaining 50 laps to finish third. The No. 9 Chevy captured its ninth top-five finish of the season and Byron was the event's Sunoco Rookie of the Race. 

 

Blaney won the 200-mile event and was followed by Allgaier, Byron, Daniel Hemric and Brennan Poole rounding out the top five. 

 

"Overall, I think today went pretty good. Our team as a whole was good all weekend and the nine car definitely had the speed. Today is the day that we needed and hopefully this run can translate into Charlotte next weekend. Moving to second in points is huge for our team and I know this Axalta team will bring a fast car next weekend."

 

Start: 1st

Finish: 3rd

Laps Completed (Led): 200 of 200 (62)

Points (Bonus): 53 (1)

Point Standings (from leader): 2nd (-3)

Status: Running