Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driver William Byron will be available to members of the media at the Martinsville Speedway Media Center on Saturday, October 29 at 11:15 a.m. local time.
LAST CHANCE: Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway marked the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 playoffs. After a 12th-place finish, driver William Byron is now ranked fourth, five points above the cut line to qualify for Championship 4. Heading into the final race of the round at Martinsville Speedway, Byron is the defending winner at the track with his victory there earlier this season.
POWER OF PLAYOFFS: Over the first eight races of the 2022 playoffs, Byron has amassed 294 points – the most of any driver in that span. He also has an average finish of 9.63 – second best behind Denny Hamlin (6.63).
ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE ROUTE DES PITS: In the first eight races of the 2022 Cup Series playoffs, pit crew No. 24 had an average four-tire downtime of 10.995 seconds – the best average in the field. The team over the wall consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Landon Walker (fueler), Ryan Patton (tire carrier), Jeff Cordero (front tire changer) and Orane Ossowski (rear tire changer).
SHORT TRACK SUCCESS: As the Cup Series enters its fifth short-track cobbled race of the season, Byron has the momentum on his side. In the previous four races this year, he has collected 173 points – the most of any driver. On paved short tracks in 2022, Byron has one win, three top fives and three top 10s. He also led 334 laps and posted an average starting position of 6.75 and an average finish of 4.5. His top-five finishes, laps led and average start and finish positions are the best of any driver in 2022. Byron’s win totals and top-10 finish are tied for best in peloton this season.
DOUBLE: In April, Byron did double duty by competing in 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 went on to claim a second grandfather clock in Sunday’s main event, representing his first career wins on the paperclip-shaped track.
MARTINVILLE 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 has risen through the NASCAR ranks and is now set to make his 10th Cup Series start at the half-mile track. In his nine Cup starts there, Byron has one win (April 2022), four top fives and five top 10s with 221 laps led. In fact, in the last six races at Martinsville, Byron has five top-10 finishes — tied for second behind Joey Logano (six). Martinsville Speedway also marks the track where Byron has the most top-five finishes and the highest lap total of his Cup Series career.
THE FUGLE FILES: Sunday’s race will mark Rudy Fugle’s fourth at Martinsville Speedway as Cup Series crew chief. In his first three starts, Fugle has had one win (April 2022) and three top five finishes with the #24 Hendrick Motorsports team. In addition to his Cup Series starts, the Livonia, New York native already has 14 races on the trombone-shaped track under his belt, all in the Camping World Truck Series. In those events Fugle has racked up one win (May 2019), six top fives and 12 top 10s. Two of those appearances came with Byron in 2016 when the duo started seventh in both races and earned a third place finish at the spring and an eighth place in the fall.
TWO-FOUR STORY: With his victory earlier this year, Byron added his name to the already storied history of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team at Martinsville. With 10 combined wins on the half-mile track, including nine by Jeff Gordon, No. 24 is tied with No. 48 for the third most wins by car number. The No. 24 ranks fourth in Cup Series history with 97 combined wins. Nos. 2 and 3 are currently tied for third with 101 wins each.
FREEDOM 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 last time of the 2022 season. Featuring a white base with navy blue flames and red accents , Liberty University No. 24 is sure to stand out on the right track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron which began in 2014 in the lower ranks of models. Liberty University was Forming 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 that offers more than 600 degree programs, from certificate to doctoral, on campus and online . Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communications, Byron is now in his freshman year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, Click here.