William Byron Wins at Watkins Glen

Team Chevy driver William Byron turned in a dominant performance in the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International on Sunday to take his fifth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season.

Byron was fast from the start, having qualified his Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Camaro ZL1 on the front row at the 2.452-mile, seven-turn road course in the New York Finger Lakes Region. He took the lead for the first time on Lap 21 just after Stage One concluded. He then grabbed the top spot again on Lap 24, won Stage Two and led all but two of the race’s remaining circuits.

The two laps he didn’t lead were a result of Byron’s crew chief and Livonia, New York, native Rudy Fugle making a pertinent call to pit just before the race’s sole caution flag flew on Lap 57. The result was his driver maintained his track position at the front of the field.

Byron ultimately led a race-high 66 of 90 laps and took the checkered flag by a 2.632-second margin over second place. The win was his first on a road course and the ninth of his career.

"We've had a great car all weekend and just tried to execute a good race," said Byron, whose five wins lead all Cup Series drivers this season. "Road courses haven't been our strength as a group, but we've been working really hard at it. I'm really thankful for the whole group. I feel like this sets up well for the playoffs."

Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger came home fourth on Sunday to put two Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the top-five.

Byron’s win was the series-leading 13th for Chevrolet this season and extended the Bowtie’s all-time win record to 846 in NASCAR’s premier series – leading all manufacturers.

Bryon’s victory was also the fifth consecutive triumph for a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at Watkins Glen and the Bowtie Brand’s 22nd win at the track overall. In addition, Chevrolet has won 17 of the last 22 road course events in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Chevrolet swept the Watkins Glen weekend for the second consecutive year as well, as Sam Mayer drove his JR Motorsports No. 1 Camaro SS to victory in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

And on the Cup side, with Byron and the No. 24 team’s dominant performance on Sunday, they look to be true contenders for their first championship.

Be sure to keep watching The BLOCK for more on Chevrolet Performance and all motorsports disciplines.