The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race is heating up as it enters the penultimate round. And there are just two spots left in the Championship 4. While the spotlight is shining brightly on the star driver Kyle Larson, a somewhat underconfident William Byron has quietly positioned himself in the top four. Byron, the standout driver for Hendrick Motorsports this season, finds himself in the third spot in the playoff, boasting a comfortable 30-point lead over the cutline after a respectable fourth-place finish in Miami.

However, despite his impressive season, Byron seems to lack the self-assuredness that usually accompanies a title favorite. When asked if he considers himself the championship favorite, Byron candidly responded, “I don’t know yet.” The intrigue surrounding Byron’s outlook has drawn the attention of a former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief who believes that Byron’s journey to secure his place in the Championship 4 begins with Saturday’s qualifying session at Martinsville Speedway.

Steve Letarte makes a bold claim for William Byron at Martinsville

Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR’s oldest and smallest track, is set to host the penultimate race of the 2023 season. A race that could determine which drivers will battle for the championship at the Phoenix Raceway. Byron’s performance at this critical juncture becomes pivotal. And so, the former HMS crew chief, Steve Letarte, holds a bold claim: qualifying is where it all begins.

Letarte asserts that if William Byron can secure a spot in the top five during Saturday’s qualifying session, he will more or less secure his chances of securing a spot in the Championship 4. Qualifying in the top five, according to Letarte, could pave the way for Byron to collect valuable stage points. It will position him well in the early stages of the race.

When asked if Byron should be worried about going into the penultimate race of the season, Letarte remarked, “Well, everyone has a worry. Because when you have the year this good. You don’t want to be the one that doesn’t make it to the championship 4. It’s all right there in front of you. Everything you’ve talked about, every meeting you’ve held, every Rara lunch in with the group. You jumped actually ahead of where I would start it.”

He added, “It doesn’t start in stage one. It starts on Saturday. If you look at Martinsville and the variety of the field and how it goes, I think William Byron can lock himself into the Championship 4 by qualifying in the top 5 on Saturday. He could score 8 to 15 stage points. And then race with his mittens a little bit for the rest of the race and just cruise off into the sunset of the Phoenix Desert.”

While William Byron tries to secure his spot in the Championship 4, another Hendrick Motorsports driver finds himself at the center of a different debate.

Jeff Burton claims Rick Hendrick should not hold back Kyle Larson even after his mistakes

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Despite his undeniable prowess, a series of errors have plagued Kyle Larson in recent races, raising the question of whether the team should intervene. Most recently, at the Homestead playoff race, Larson made a costly mistake on pit road. It ultimately ended up squandering a potential victory. This error added to a string of incidents in previous races, prompting concerns about his approach to racing.

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However, former driver and current analyst Jeff Burton has a clear perspective on this matter. He believes that, despite the mistakes, Hendrick Motorsports should not hold back Larson. According to Burton, trying to restrict Larson’s natural racing style could be counterproductive.

Burton stated, “It’s very hard to do it all. It’s very hard to maximize everything and also not make mistakes. I think you make him aware of the mistakes and what he could have done differently. But you don’t want to slow him down.”

Burton’s argument is rooted in the understanding that Larson’s exceptional speed is his gift, and tampering with it might hinder his overall performance. “The gift that you’ve been given with Kyle Larson is incredible speed. And you don’t want to take that away. You keep letting him push the limit and then he naturally will find the edge. But I don’t think you can coach that, I don’t think you can teach that. I think that it has to happen. You have to make those mistakes.”

READ MORE: William Byron Lets Slip HMS’ Incompetence Amidst Kyle Larson’s Dumpster Fire Judgment Call

William Byron’s quest for confidence and a Championship 4 spot is juxtaposed with Kyle Larson’s natural, high-speed approach, complete with a few mistakes along the way. Who is your favorite for the championship title? Let us know your pick in the comments below.