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Byron, who gained the primary two phases and led 176 of 271 laps, misplaced the lead throughout a spherical of pit stops late within the race and it appeared his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson was going to cruise to the victory.
Aric Almirola’s spin and wreck on Lap 264 despatched the race right into a two-lap additional time. Martin Truex Jr. elected to stay on the monitor whereas Byron and Larson got here out second and third, due to two-tire stops.
Byron powered previous Truex coming into Flip 3 with one lap remaining and held off Larson by 0.622 seconds to earn the win.
The victory is the fifth in Byron’s profession and first of the 2023 season. With fellow Hendrick driver Alex Bowman ending up third, HMS claimed its third-ever 1-2-3 end.
“Simply been actually assured in regards to the group of men that I’ve on this No. 24 workforce. They work extraordinarily arduous, and we spent a variety of time within the low season simply going by means of working on the sim with Chevy and working on iRacing and simply making an attempt to get higher as a race automobile driver and as a workforce,” Byron stated.
“It’s all in regards to the workforce. It’s an incredible pit crew. Considering of Chase (Elliott) again dwelling. Want he was out right here with us. He is an incredible race automobile driver, nice teammate. Want he was out right here, however grateful to (Rick Hendrick), Jeff Gordon.
“Actually after we received again in visitors, it was a bit of bit tight, however we knew we had pace so we simply needed to have the correct issues play out, and Rudy (Fugle, crew chief) made a superb name, so it was good.”
Bubba Wallace ended up fourth and Christopher Bell rounded out the top-five.
Finishing the top-10 have been Austin Cindric, Truex, Justin Haley, Kevin Harvick and Daniel Suarez.
Chevrolet drivers have now gained the primary three races of the season for the primary time for the reason that 2010 season.
JR Motorsports Xfinity Collection driver Josh Berry, who substituted for the injured Elliott in Hendrick’s No. 9 automobile, ended up twenty ninth and two laps down.
Stage 3
Following the break between Phases 2 and three, the lead-lap automobiles all pit with Byron first off pit highway.
On the restart on Lap 174, Byron was adopted by Larson, Bowman, Truex and Ross Chastain.
Whereas working three-ride with Kyle Busch whereas exiting Flip 4 on Lap 183, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski made contact which despatched Logano spinning down into the frontstretch grass to convey out a warning.
The harm on Logano’s No. 22 Penske Ford was too extreme to restore and his race got here to an early finish.
“Contemplating how we’ve been right here prior to now, you form of anticipate it a bit of bit extra efficiency right now than what we had. Simply off on general pace,” he stated. “We had the steadiness considerably shut – simply not quick. Now we have to return to the drafting board for after we come again right here.”
The lead-lap automobiles all pit with Hamlin the primary off pit highway due to a two-tire pit cease. Jones was compelled to again up on pit highway and return to his pit stall to tighten a unfastened lug nut.
On the restart on Lap 190, Hamlin was adopted by Bowman, Byron, Truex and Harvick.
Larson received to the skin of Hamlin off Flip 4 on Lap 186 and at last cleared him to take the lead for the primary time within the race.
On Lap 208, Bell – who had been working within the top-five – reported a “actually unhealthy vibration” in his No. 20 Toyota and fell off the tempo.
Denny Hamlin and Bell kicked off a remaining spherical of green-flag pit stops on Lap 220 to tackle new tires and gas to make it to the top of the race.
Noah Gragson was hit along with his third pit highway dashing penalty of the day through the stops and needed to serve a pass-through down pit highway.
As soon as the cycle of the stops was accomplished on Lap 228, Larson returned to the lead with a 1.8-second benefit over Hamlin. They have been adopted by Byron, Truex and Bowman.
With 35 laps remaining, Byron moved into the runner-up spot, 3.1 seconds behind Larson.
On Lap 264, Almirola spun and wrecked off Flip 4 to convey out the fourth warning of the race and ship it into additional time.
A lot of the lead-lap automobiles elected to pit however Truex stayed out and inherited the lead. Byron was first off pit highway, due to a two-tire name.
To start out the two-lap additional time, Truex was adopted by Byron, Larson, Hamlin and Bowman.
Stage 2
Byron maintained his dominant efficiency, simply take the Stage 2 win over Larson.
Bowman was third, Truex fourth and Bell rounded out the top-five.
Following the break between Phases 1 and a pair of, the lead-lap automobiles all pit with Byron the primary off pit highway.
On the restart on Lap 90, Byron was adopted by Larson, Hamlin, Chastain and Truex.
Berry tagged the wall on Lap 95 however was capable of stay on the monitor.
On Lap 106, Suarez made contact with Chris Buescher and shoved his No. 17 Ford into the wall. Buescher obtained some harm, however no warning was referred to as.
With 50 laps remaining within the stage, Byron held a 3.2-second lead over Larson whereas Bowman moved into third.
Buescher and Ty Gibbs kicked off a spherical of green-flag pit stops on Lap 120 to take new tires and gas to make it to the top of the stage.
As soon as the cycle of stops was accomplished on Lap 127, Byron remained within the adopted by Larson and Bell.
With 10 laps to go within the stage, Byron remained out entrance adopted by his teammates Larson and Bowman.
Stage 1
Byron cruised to a dominate Stage 1 win over Larson, main 67 of the 80 laps.
Chastain was third, Bell fourth and Hamlin rounded out the top-five.
Logano began on the pole and shortly cleared for the lead after the beginning.
On Lap 10, Byron went to the within of Logano in Flip 4 and got here away with the lead as Larson moved into second.
With 50 laps remaining within the stage, Byron maintained a 1.3-second lead over Larson as Chastain ran third.
Ryan Blaney made a green-flag pit cease on Lap 33 and Truex adopted on Lap 34 to take new tires and gas to make it to the top of the stage.
Gragson and Michael McDowell needed to serve a pass-through penalties after each have been penalized for dashing on pit highway. Gibbs was needed to serve a pass-through penalty for having too many crew members over the wall.
As soon as the cycle of stops was accomplished on Lap 41, Byron returned to the lead adopted by Larson and Chastain.
Gragson was hit with a second pass-through penalty after he was caught dashing whereas serving his unique penalty.
With 10 laps to go, Byron held a small however regular lead over his teammate Larson as Chastain remained in third, 6.2 seconds behind the chief.
