After holding off a late push from Joey Logano at Martinsville, William Byron won the very first repeat winner of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Byron led 212 of the 403 laps on Saturday night, but a final caution put the race into a two-lap overtime period, bundling the field for the final time.
Byron took the lead and the white flag, but Logano attempted to overcome him exiting Turn 4 but couldn’t accomplish the pass, and Byron won by 0.303 seconds for his maiden victory at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Byron broke the record of 7 distinct winners in the first 7 races, which began three weeks ago in Atlanta. He won for the fourth time in his career.
Four of the season’s opening eight races have been won by Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
“It feels awesome,” said Byron, who also won Thursday night’s Truck race at the track. “I knew when that last caution came out I thought everyone behind us would pit and luckily we stayed out.
“We were aggressive, we felt we could re-fire on the tires and you got one of the most aggressive guys behind you in Logano. I chattered the tires in (Turns) 3 and 4 and I left the bottom (lane) but was able to block my exits and get a good drive off.
“This one is for my mom (Dana). This same weekend last year she had kind of a mini-stroke and was diagnosed with brain cancer. It means a lot to have her here, and it’s been a crazy year, but she’s doing great, and thanks, everybody, for the support.
“I kind of felt like she was riding in there with me. It’s cool to have her here, and I’m definitely going to enjoy this one.”
Austin Dillon finished third, Ryan Blaney fourth, and Ross Chastain fifth.
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe, and Chase Elliott completed the top-10, with Elliott starting on the pole and leading the first 185 laps.
Only 4 cautions were issued, two of those were for track breaks, making the race extremely placid by Martinsville norms. A round of green-flag pit stops in the last stage resulted in five lead changes among four drivers.
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Martinsville, Grand Prix, IndyCar, Nascar, NASCAR Cup Series, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Xfinity, William Byron