William Byron, driver of Liberty University’s #24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to speak to media at the Martinsville Speedway Media Center on Saturday, October 29 at 11:15 am local time.
LAST CHANCE: Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway marked the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 16. After a 12th place finish, driver William Byron is now fourth, five points above the cut line to advance to Championship 4. Going into the last race of the round at Martinsville Speedway, Byron is the defending champion on track with his win there earlier this season.
PLAYOFF POWER: In the first eight races of the 2022 playoffs, Byron has 294 points – the most of any driver in that span. He also has a 9.63 finish average – second best to Denny Hamlin (6.63).
PIT ROAD ABILITY: In the first eight races of the 2022 Cup Series Playoffs, the No. 24 pit crew averaged a four tire pit stop time of 10.995 seconds – the best average in the field. The over-the-wall crew consists of Spencer Bishop (Jackman), Landon Walker (tanker), Ryan Patton (tire carrier), Jeff Cordero (front tire changer) and Orane Ossowski (rear tire changer).
SHORT SUCCESS: As the Cup Series heads into its fifth tarmac short course race of the season, Byron has the momentum on his side. In the four races so far this year he has scored 173 points – the most of any driver. On short paved tracks in 2022, Byron has one win, three top 5 finishes and three top 10 finishes. He has also led 334 laps and achieved an average starting position of 6.75 and an average finishing position of 4.5. His top 5 finishes, laps completed and average start and finish positions are the best of any driver in 2022. Byron’s overall wins and top 10 finishes are level with the best in the field this season.
DOUBLED: In April, Byron did double duty by competing in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Cup Series events in Martinsville. Not only did he take the win in the truck event, but the driver grabbed a second grandfather clock in Sunday’s main event, marking his first career victories at the paperclip-shaped track.
MARTINSVILLE MINUTES: Despite his young age, Byron’s time at Martinsville Speedway dates back to 2006 when he attended his first Cup Series race as a fan. Since then, the 24-year-old driver has moved through the NASCAR ranks and is now poised to start his 10th Cup series at the half-mile circuit. Of his nine Cup starts there, Byron has one win (April 2022), four top five finishes and five top 10 finishes with a 221-lap lead. In fact, Byron has had five top 10 finishes in the last six races at Martinsville – the second highest behind Joey Logano (six). Martinsville Speedway also marks the track where Byron has had the most top-five finishes and the highest lap count of his career in the Cup Series.
THE FUGLE FILES: Sunday’s race marks Rudy Fugle’s fourth race at Martinsville Speedway as Cup Series crew chief. In his first three starts, Fugle has achieved one win (April 2022) and three top five finishes with the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team. Aside from his Cup Series starts, the Livonia, New York native has already completed 14 races at the paperclip-shaped track, all in the Camping World Truck Series. In these events, Fugle has one win (May 2019), six top five finishes, and 12 top 10 finishes. Two of those appearances came in 2016 with Byron as the duo started seventh in both races and finished third in the spring and eighth in the fall.
TWO-FOUR STORY: With his win earlier this year, Byron added his name to the already impressive history of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team at Martinsville. With 10 combined wins at the half-mile circuit, including nine by Jeff Gordon, the No. 24 ties with No. 48 for the third most wins there by a car number. The No. 24 ranks fourth in Cup Series history with 97 combined wins. Numbers 2 and 3 are currently in third place with 101 wins each.
LIBERTY U IS BACK: For Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway, Byron will get behind the wheel of Liberty University’s #24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the final time of the 2022 season. Featuring a white base with navy blue flames and red accents, Liberty University No. 24 sure to attract attention on the race track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron, beginning in 2014 in the late-model ranks. Liberty University was Training champions for Christ since its founding in 1971. Located in the mountains of central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools offering more than 600 degree programs, from certificate to doctorate, on campus and online. Byron is working on a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and is now in his junior year at Liberty University through their online program. Click here for a better overview of Byron’s Liberty University color scheme.
