Bubba Wallace’s Spotter and Larry McReynolds Defend Joey Logano’s Racing Against William Byron in Coca-Cola 600

During the dramatic final laps of the 2024 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a heated debate emerged regarding Joey Logano’s defensive driving and its impact on William Byron’s heartbreaking loss. However, both Freddie Kraft, Bubba Wallace’s spotter, and veteran NASCAR analyst Larry McReynolds have come to Logano’s defense, stating that he did nothing wrong and was simply racing hard to stay on the lead lap.

Byron’s Dominance and the Late-Race Twist

William Byron had a stellar performance, leading a race-high 283 out of 400 laps. He seemed poised for victory in NASCAR’s longest race, dominating much of the night. However, with just six laps remaining, Ross Chastain managed to pass Byron and secure the win. The pivotal moment came when Logano, fighting to avoid being lapped, raced Byron aggressively. This allowed Chastain to close the gap and ultimately make the race-winning move in Turns 3 and 4.

Post-Race Frustration and Analysis

After the race, Byron expressed frustration, suggesting that Logano’s actions may have cost him the win. He pointed out that Logano’s unpredictable line changes, especially in Turns 3 and 4, made it difficult to maintain his lead. Byron commented:

“He was doing the usual,” Byron said of Logano’s defensive driving. “What I didn’t like is; he just kept moving around in 3 and 4. I don’t know what he was doing. I think just was in traffic a lot that run.”

Byron also referenced a key moment when Tyler Reddick got loose off Turn 2 and hit the wall right in front of him, causing Byron to lose momentum and giving Chastain the opportunity to close in.

Kraft and McReynolds Defend Logano

On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft and Larry McReynolds pushed back against the idea that Logano was at fault. Tommy Baldwin, Competition Director at Rick Ware Racing, also weighed in, suggesting that Byron’s choice of racing line on the final lap may have hurt his own chances.

Kraft explained:

“I thought Joey was giving him (Byron) the wall in (turns) one and two every lap, you know, and that’s what you really want… He was a little less predictable in three and four, he would move up sometimes and run that lane down, and I think I saw one comment where William was a little bit unhappy about that, but Larry, I don’t see anything he did wrong.”

McReynolds was even more emphatic, criticizing the notion that lapped drivers should make it easier for race leaders:

“I have zero tolerance when I hear a driver talk about another driver racing them hard. Really? He raced you hard, that’s a shame, he shouldn’t do that, should he?” McReynolds said sarcastically. “Joey Logano did nothing wrong, he was trying to stay on the lead lap because you know what? If the caution comes out, then he’s able to come in and get four fresh tires, and he maybe can really get a much better finish than he had.”

Byron’s Silver Lining

Despite the disappointing finish, Byron still had a strong night. He swept the first three stages of the race and collected enough points to take over the Cup Series standings lead from his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, who crashed out on lap 247 after a multi-car wreck.

Byron now holds a 29-point advantage over Larson in the Cup Series standings, despite his frustration with how the race ended.