William Byron’s Disappointment: Denny Hamlin’s Tactical Brilliance Crushes Darlington Hopes

William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports experienced a heartbreaking defeat at Darlington Raceway this past Sunday, finishing second to Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing in a NASCAR Cup Series race he dominated for the majority of the event. Byron led an impressive 243 out of 297 laps, showcasing one of the best performances of his career. However, a swift final pit stop by Hamlin’s team allowed him to seize the victory.

Race Summary

Byron held the lead with 50 laps remaining but opted to delay his pit stop during the green-flag period. This decision allowed drivers like Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell, who pitted earlier for fresh tires, to gain track position. Consequently, Byron rejoined the race in 12th place.

In a post-race interview, Byron expressed his disappointment, stating, “The team did a great job, a great car. We just needed control of the race there under green, and we lost that with the sequence. The 45 [Tyler Reddick] went really short, and you know, we lost a few spots under the green flag sequence, and that was the difference. So, we, you know, had a good, decent run that time.”

The Obstacle

Despite charging through the field on fresh tires, Byron found himself stuck behind Hamlin’s teammate, Christopher Bell, who proved difficult to pass. A late caution provided Byron with an opportunity, lining his No. 24 Chevy up on the second row. However, a superior pit stop by Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 team ultimately secured the win for Hamlin in the Goodyear 400.

Byron lamented, “The 20 [Christopher Bell] did a good job kind of air blocking, and just kind of keeping us behind, and it took me a long time to get by him, and then had a great pit stop there at the very end, and was able to line up on the second row, just need the front row to have a shot to win here. So yeah, just, it sucks.”

Points Standing

Despite the disappointing finish, William Byron maintains his lead in the NASCAR Cup points standings. He expressed pride in his team’s effort and remains optimistic for strong results throughout the season.

Hamlin’s Victory

Denny Hamlin’s victory at Darlington marked his second consecutive NASCAR Cup race win of the 2025 season. The 44-year-old led only 10 laps but secured the win after a remarkable 9.4-second pit stop following a wreck involving Kyle Larson. This pit stop allowed Hamlin to exit first before the final restart at the 1.366-mile oval track, ultimately finishing just 0.597 seconds ahead of Byron.

Hamlin acknowledged the crucial role of his pit crew and Kyle Larson in his victory, stating, “There’s two people I really love right now, my pit crew and Kyle Larson.”

The next race on the schedule is the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.