William Byron secured the pole position for the NASCAR race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), marking his 13th career pole award, his second at COTA, and his fifth on a road course. Despite overshooting Turn 1 during the race, which temporarily handed the lead to Ross Chastain, Byron managed to reclaim the lead with 25 laps to go through strategic pit stops and decisive overtaking maneuvers. The race saw intense competition, with Byron, Chastain, and Ty Gibbs frequently exchanging positions at the front. Byron's successful navigation of the track and pit strategy allowed him to cycle back to the race lead, ultimately maintaining a gap of 1.8 seconds over his competitors, with Gibbs nearly five seconds behind. The event highlighted Byron's skill on road courses, showcasing his ability to recover and maintain a lead under pressure.
William Byron cycles to the race lead as Martin Truex Jr. pits with 18 laps to go. It's Byron over Bowman, Gibbs, Reddick and Chastain. Bryon has 1.8 seconds on his teammate
William Byron leading at COTA with 17 laps to go. Alex Bowman is -1.8 seconds back. Ty Gibbs -4.8 seconds, Tyler Reddick -10.7 seconds, Ross Chastain -10.8 seconds.
William Byron has cycled back out to the lead with 17 laps remaining. Alex Bowman is 1.8 seconds back in second. Ty Gibbs runs third, nearly five seconds behind. #NASCAR
Truex pits, and Byron takes the lead after the pits have cycled through. Bowman less than two seconds back. #NASCAR
17 laps to go. #NASCAR
Bell on pit road from the lead with 19 laps to go. #NASCAR
20 laps to go. #NASCAR
46/68 William Byron gets off pit road ahead of Alex Bowman. Ross Chastain comes off pit road after Alex Bowman. Ty Gibbs pits from lead with AJ Allmendinger, Chase Elliott, Kaz Grala Byron comes out ahead of Bowman and Gibbs, who slot ahead of Chastain 47/68
Tyler Reddick on pit road with 21 laps to go. #NASCAR
Byron exits pit road with a sizable gap to Chastain behind him. Bowman slots in between them. #NASCAR
William Byron and Ross Chastain come to pit road with 24 laps to go. A lap after Alex Bowman. The leader now is Ty Gibbs
Alex Bowman overtakes Ross Chastain with the earlier pit stop. #nascar
William Byron and Ross Chastain (the top two cars) both pit, handing the lead momentarily to Ty Gibbs. Tyler Reddick is -4 seconds to Gibbs. 23 laps to go.
Leaders William Byron and Ross Chastain on pit road. New leader, @TyGibbs #NASCAR
Byron, Chastain to pit road now with 23 to go. #NASCAR
Alex Bowman is on pit road. #NASCAR
William Byron to the race lead with 25 laps to go. Byron over Chastain, Gibbs, Bowman, and Reddick
Byron pulls it off, he take the lead from Chastain, who attempted and failed on the crossover. #NASCAR
William Byron takes the lead back from William Byron entering Turn 1 with 25 laps remaining. #NASCAR
Byron to Chastain's left exiting Turn 20 -- and Chastain tries to cross him over into Turn 1! New leader with 25 to go: Byron. Gibbs now on their tails too. #NASCAR
New leader: William Byron passes Ross Chastain with 25 laps to go.
42/68 William Byron took a shot at getting under Ross Chastain for the lead 24 stays right there with the 1
Byron dives to the inside of Chastain in Turn 1 with 26 laps to go, but Chastain has the power off the corner and holds onto the lead. #NASCAR
Bryon tried to retake the lead in Turn 1, but Chastain said not yet bub. Chastain continues to lead. #NASCAR
Byron charges into Turn 1 peeking left on Chastain but to no avail. Chastain maintains the lead with 26 to go. #NASCAR
William Byron takes second from Ty Gibbs. #nascar
William Byron wide in Turn 1 and Ross Chastain and Ty Gibbs go through on the lap 34 restart
Byron overshoots turn 1, he slides wide, gets back on track, but not before fell to third place. Chastain now leads ahead of Ty Gibbs. #NASCAR
William Byron overshot Turn 1, handing the lead to Ross Chastain. #NASCAR
28/68 William Byron pits from the lead and drags Ty Gibbs from second, Ross Chastain from third Denny Hamlin to the lead
Pitting at Lap 28: Byron, Gibbs, Chastain from the top three. #NASCAR
William Byron on the pole for the Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas. It's his second pole at COTA and fifth on a road course
It's a Willy B pole in COTA. Byron goes fastest in the final round over Ty GIbbs, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and the impressive Corey LaJoie (who starts P5 tomorrow!). #NASCAR
REPOST to congratulate William Byron! He gets his 13th career pole award, qualifying first at COTA. #NASCAR https://t.co/2opn3LszFY
William Byron wins the pole for Sunday's EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix @COTA. #NASCAR
William Byron wins the pole for tomorrow's race at COTA. Ty Gibbs will start second. #NASCAR
William Byron takes pole position at COTA! Ty Gibbs will start alongside, just 0.015s shy of P1. #NASCAR