Can William Byron Break Out In The Playoffs?

In a NASCAR Cup Series playoff field that remains tight through four races, William Byron has the opportunity to do something he’s never done before: reach the third round of the postseason.

Since the playoffs began, Byron and the No. 24 team have recaptured their form from early in the season. That was when he became the first driver in 2022 to win multiple points-paying races and climbed as high as second in overall points. But that hot start gave way to a sluggish summer. In the 18 races after his win at Martinsville Speedway, all the way to the end of the regular season, Byron only had one top-10 finish. The No. 24 team tumbled down the points standings, finally ending the regular season 10th overall. Byron’s participation in the playoffs was never in doubt, but his long summer slump tanked his stock as a potential championship contender.

Yet the minute the playoffs began, Byron flipped the switch once more. At Darlington Raceway, the No. 24 team won the first stage and rolled to an eighth-place finish. A sixth-place finish at Kansas Speedway followed that, with a third place at Bristol Motor Speedway capping off a strong first round for Byron.

Now Byron is one of 12 drivers left standing in the championship hunt. Of those remaining playoff drivers, six have participated in the third round at least once. Four of the other six drivers are in the playoffs for the very first time. Byron and Christopher Bell are the only drivers who have previous playoff experience but have never advanced beyond the second round.

Bell, who is in the playoffs for the second time, had an even better first round than Byron. Three straight top-five finishes to begin the playoffs forced the field to take notice of the No. 20. However, Bell crashed out of last weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. He left that race 29 points below the cut line, demonstrating how quickly fortunes can change in NASCAR.

Byron soldiered through the race at Texas and ultimately finished seventh. He managed to avoid the tire issues that knocked several contenders out of the running. But Byron did not escape Texas without some controversy. Late in the race, while running in the top five, he and Denny Hamlin were battling for position when Hamlin washed up into the No. 24 on the exit of turn 2. The contact forced Byron into the wall, costing him the spot. A short time later, under caution on lap 269, Byron rammed Hamlin in the back bumper coming onto the frontstretch, causing the No. 11…