William Byron led his Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) teammates into the NASCAR history books in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday (4/7).
The day was historic to start with for HMS. They were celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the team’s first ever win which came at this track in 1984 for when Geoff Bodine won.
The 2024 race started with HMS drivers Kyle Larson on the pole, Chase Elliott starting from third, Alex Bowman in position ten and William Byron deepest in the field starting from eighteenth. Things looked to be building for a great day for Kyle at the start of the race. He led every lap from the pole in stage one and won the first stage of the race.
Kyle was one of eight drivers to exchange the lead at Martinsville 13 times. Denny Hamlin was one of those drivers and managed to score the win in stage two. However, due to the timing of a couple of caution periods, pit strategy and pit stop execution, William Byron found his way to the lead during stage three of the race.
William was able to maintain that lead for 72 laps with his HMS teammates behind him running in second and third. It appeared that the three cars would cruise to the finish in that order until the right front tire blew out on John Hunter Nemechek’s car bringing out the fifth and final caution of the race. That happened on lap 399, before the leader could take the white flag. That put the race in a NASCAR overtime of a green-white-checkered finish.
William Byron and Chase Elliott filled the front row for the re-start with Kyle Larson behind them in row two. William and Chase battled for the lead when the green flag waived. Kyle was able to get past Chase as a result of his battle with William. The three HMS drivers raced for the win and to maintain the 1,2,3 finish. In the end it was William claiming the win. It gives William his second Cup Win at the track, a series leading three wins in 2024 and his 13th Cup Series career win.
Kyle Larson finished in the runner-up spot with Chase Elliott fighting hard to get the third-place finish. That gave HMS the first ever 1,2,3 finish by a single race team at Martinsville Speedway. The win gives HMS their 29th win at Martinsville, the most wins by a single team at any track in NASCAR. It was also the 305th HMS win overall. See the complete race results for the Cook Out 400 race here.
Following the race at Martinsville Speedway, Kyle Larson moves up a spot to take over the lead in the point standings. Martin Truex Jr. slips back to second. Denny Hamlin holds steady in third place. The third win gives William Byron the top spot in the Playoffs Outlook. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
Up next the NASCAR Cup Series goes BIG at the Texas Motor Speedway in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 Sunday, April 14th.
By: Buck Stevens
