Sunday (3/20) William Byron made if five winners in five races in 2022 for NASCAR in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.
The Atlanta Motor Speedway was completely reconfigured after the final race at the track in 2021. This year the drivers faced a one-and-a-half-mile superspeedway when they arrived in Atlanta. The track now boasts the highest banking for an intermediate track on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. With 28 degrees of banking in the turns the cars would run at speeds comparable to the two-and-a-half-mile superspeedways in Daytona and Talladega.
NASCAR and the Atlanta Motor Speedway track managers hoped the new configuration would provide more exciting racing for the fans to enjoy. They got their wish. The 2022 Folds of Honor QuikTip 500 now holds the record for most leaders (20) and most lead changes (46) all-time at the track.
William Byron led the most times (8) and the most laps (111) during Sunday’s race. He also managed to be the winner of stage one when it ended under caution. Ryan Blaney was the winner of stage two which also ended under caution.
Adding to the excitement for fans to enjoy were 11 caution periods. This included a version of the “Big One” that teams and drivers fear at superspeedways. That incident involved a total of 13 cars.
Some late race cautions jumbled the field as the race neared the end. William Byron was able to get in position to have a shot to win as the laps wound down. He was able to gain the lead following the final re-start of the race. William protected that lead over the final laps to claim his third career win in the NASCAR Cup Series. That also give Hendrick Motorsports their third different winner in the 2022 season. William’s win also extends the streak of five different winners all under 30-years-old in 2022 for the NASCAR Cup Series season.
When William was crossing the finish line other cars were wrecking behind him. Ross Chastain took home the runner-up finish. Kurt Busch claimed third-place. Daniel Suárez took home fourth-place with Corey LaJoie rounding out the top five. See the complete race results for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 here.
Chase Elliott leaves Atlanta as the leader in the point standings. Joey Logano is in second-place. Chase Briscoe holds the third-place as William Byron’s win moves him up to fourth-place. Kurt Busch is in fifth-place. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
Next up the drivers will find out how the seventh version of the Next Gen car handles on a road course. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will take place on the Circuit of the Americas road course in Texas Sunday, March 27th.
By: Buck Stevens
