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William Byron Wins Second in a Row (by Bob Pockrass/foxsports.com
AVONDALE, Ariz. — William Byron didn't dominate the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday, but the result was the same for the second consecutive week as he celebrated in victory lane.
A week after passing Martin Truex Jr. in an overtime restart at Las Vegas, Byron snagged the lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson on an overtime restart to capture the win at Phoenix Raceway.
"We've done a good job to put ourselves in those positions on the front row with a shot at the end," Byron said.
Hendrick drivers led 265 of the 317 laps Sunday but it appeared Kevin Harvick was going to win before a late caution for Harrison Burton. Harvick took four fresh tires on the ensuing pit stop while six drivers took two, leaving Larson and Byron to pretty much fight for the win.
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Byron Celebrates
William Byron went winless for 30 races before his back-to-back victories. The 25-year-old Byron — now in his sixth season as a Cup driver — doesn't have a championship as his teammates Larson and Chase Elliott do, but he's shown he can perform in the clutch the last two weeks.
"I see a progression with William ever since he came to Hendrick," said team co-owner Jeff Gordon, the four-time Cup champion. "You've got to remember how young he was coming into the Cup Series, so much to learn, young in racing in so many ways."
He didn't have the best car Sunday, but he made the most out of his opportunity by making a somewhat bold move on the outside to get by Larson.
"When you have that level of commitment that you know you have on a green-white-checkered [in overtime] to come out the other side, it's either going to go really good or not," Byron said.
Published by Bob Pockrass on foxsports.com. To read the full story, click here.
