In the closing laps of the 2025 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the race took a dramatic turn when William Byron collided with Ty Dillon. Byron, running second, was caught off guard as Dillon, who was off-sequence with the pit cycle, slowed unexpectedly to enter pit road. Byron, not anticipating the move, crashed into the rear of Dillon’s car, ending his race and resulting in a 36th-place finish.

The incident highlighted the importance of clear communication and situational awareness on the track. Dillon’s late pit entry, combined with the lack of signaling, led to the unfortunate collision. Both drivers were unharmed, but the crash underscored the unpredictable nature of racing and the critical need for effective communication among drivers and teams. And now Hendrick’s Crew chief has spoken, emphasizing that, but also blaming Ty for it.

Fugle blasts Dillon’s pit blunder

Rudy Fugle, William Byron’s crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports, didn’t hold back in a Sirius XM interview: “There are two things that can happen, and you know that needs to happen on every one of those stops… I think we just, culture-wise, we all need to do our job of communicating better, but from a driver’s standpoint, there was no hand out the window.”

Fugle’s zeroing in on Dillon’s failure to signal his pit entry with a hand out the window, a safety staple since the early 2000s. The Las Vegas wreck, with Byron slamming Dillon’s rear in Turn 2, could’ve been avoided with that simple gesture. Fugle’s call for better “culture” echoes past incidents, like Ryan Blaney and Corey LaJoie’s 2023 Martinsville near-miss, where spotter delays forced last-second dodges.

“There are a lot of people that will be busy and they’ll do a swerve low on the back stretch… and should have taken a shallow entry to stay clear,” Fugle said. He’s slamming Dillon for his poor pit line, swerving low and forcing Byron to brake hard at 180 mph.

The Roval’s hybrid layout demands predictable entries, and Dillon’s shallow dive created a hazard, much like Ross Chastain’s 2022 Kansas pit miscue that nearly sparked a multi-car mess. Fugle’s frustration isn’t just about Byron’s 36th and 19 points; it’s about a blunder that cost Hendrick a title shot.

“So the other thing that can or should happen, especially when somebody that’s off the pace and running in between two leaders… probably should come down and say ‘Hey, we’re getting ready to pit. Be ready… So yeah, I just thought all of that could have been done better,” Fugle added. He’s calling out Dillon’s spotter for not radioing the pit intent early, leaving Byron blind.

Spotters are the eyes in the sky, relaying moves at high speed, and this lapse turned a routine stop into a wreck. Similar breakdowns, like Ty Gibbs’ 2024 Richmond spring near-miss, show how delayed guidance can cascade into chaos. Fugle’s “all of that” includes Dillon’s team, from driver to spotter, for dropping the ball on communication.

Fugle’s fury connects to Kyle Petty’s take on Byron’s title odds, insisting all isn’t lost.

Kyle Petty sees hope for Byron

“Late in the race, we see William Byron get in an accident as the #10 car of Ty Dillon comes to Pit Road. What does that do to his championship hopes? Does it kill him? I don’t believe so. I don’t believe so because… We’re going to Talladega! And Talladega is up in the air, man. We saw William score major points yesterday in the stages. But we also saw him lose in that final stage. Doesn’t make a difference,” Petty said.

Byron’s Stage 1 win, third in Stage 2, and 55 laps led showed his speed before Dillon’s blunder tanked him to 36th. “He’s only down 15… Talladega and a big win go hand in hand… I think that William Byron can recover from this because we’ve seen the Hendrick cars have speed… William Byron innocent victim in this. But as I look at it. I’m telling you, he will recover. I have Byron going all the way to Phoenix. And my final four: Bell, Byron, Blaney,” Petty added.

The 65-year-old’s not mincing words; Dillon’s spotter should’ve warned Byron, and Dillon needed to signal. Byron’s 15-point deficit to the Championship 4 isn’t fatal; Talladega’s chaos favors comebacks, and Hendrick’s speed at Martinsville gives him a shot. Petty’s Byron pick, with Bell and Blaney, sees Hendrick’s depth shining through the wreck.

Fugle’s blame on Dillon’s camp underscores Petty’s “innocent victim” view. Byron had the pace, leading 55 laps and sweeping stages, but a communication failure cost him. With Talladega’s draft lottery and Martinsville’s short-track edge, Byron’s got the tools to rally, just like Petty’s calling.