“What an Idiot” – William Byron Frustrated After Crash at Bristol Ends His NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Hopes
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William Byron knew he needed to produce a strong run as he entered the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs elimination race at Bristol. He was doing just that until he was caught completely off guard in an incident that ended his night and his chance to make the next round of the playoffs.
A few laps before the end of Stage 2, Byron was forced to the pit area out of nowhere. The front of his car was heavily damaged, after contact with Christopher Bell’s No. 95 car. However, it was Joey Gase who Byron was frustrated with.
As his crew tended to his car after the crash, Byron said on his radio, “I don’t know why he just stopped in the middle of a straightaway. What an idiot.”
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"What an idiot."
William Byron has been eliminated from #NASCARPlayoffs Round of 12 contention. He's out of the race. Listen in to the No. 24 team's radio. pic.twitter.com/P0vKtIPBey
— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 20, 2020
William Byron explains the incident
He later revealed that it was Gase’s No. 51 car that suddenly slowed on a straightaway before Byron crashed into Bell as he had nowhere to go. Byron was in 10th place when the incident happened and was in a good position to move into the Round of 12.
“I think the (No.) 51 car was like a black and green car and checked up in the middle of a straightaway,” Byron said later.
“As fast as we were running at the top, we were right behind the 95 and I had literally nowhere to go. You can’t stop in the middle of a straightaway. When everybody is so committed to the top like that. Just ridiculous that that’s what takes us out,” he explained.
Hopes of advancing in the #NASCARPlayoffs come to an end for @WilliamByron at @BMSupdates.
He heads to the garage with significant damage to his No. 24. pic.twitter.com/lCZo5tsWZi
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 20, 2020
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An unfortunate end to Byron’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff hopes
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Byron entered the race just one spot outside the 12-driver cutoff for the next round. He was just three points off Clint Bowyer and even ended Stage 1 in 8th place.
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Byron entered the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with a victory at the Daytona International Speedway in the regular-season finale. It was his first career win in the Cup Series.
Earlier, the No, 24 car driver for Hendrick Motorsports, Byron finished in 5th place in the playoffs opener at Darlington. After that, a 21st place finish at Richmond, followed by Saturday’s incident at Bristol Motor Speedway, spoiled his season.
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