MARTINSVILLE, VA — The first night race for the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway was an easy race for Hendrick Motorsports — until a late caution sent the race to overtime, that is.
But William Byrne survived a final restart and a mistake on the white-flag lap to win Saturday night's Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 on the 0.526-mile short track.
Byron led 212 out of 403 laps. Teammate and pole winner Chase Elliott led the first 185 circuits as Hendrick Motorsports crossed 10,000 laps to lead Martinsville, becoming the first cup organization to hit that prodigious number on a single track.
At the end of two-lap overtime, Byron crossed the finish line 0.303 seconds ahead of runner-up Joey Logano, who could not get close enough to Byron's No. 24 Chevrolet in the final corner to make a move for the win.
Byrne, who also won Thursday night's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, is the first driver to win two events this season. Saturday night's Cup win at Martinsville was his first and fourth of his career.
With his parents at his pit box for the entire race, Byrne dedicated the victory to his mother.
"When that last caution came out (with the turn 4 wall on lap 393 for Todd Gilliland's brush), I thought
Everyone behind us would pit,” Byron said. "Luckily, we stayed out - we were aggressive. We figured we could fire on the tires and be fine.
"One of the most aggressive guys behind you with Logano. I rolled the tires into (turns) 3 and 4 (on the white-flag lap) and left the bottom open, but I couldn't get a good drive off (corner). was able to block his exit.
"It's for my mom. This weekend last year, she kind of had a mini-stroke and was diagnosed with brain cancer. Her being here means a lot, and it's been a crazy year, but She's doing great, and thanks to everyone for the support. I felt like she was riding there with me. It's nice to have her here, and I'm definitely going to enjoy it."
Logano had mixed feelings after the race. A strong second-place run was gratifying, but it was not first, but second, and it extended her winning streak to 37 races.
"That last restart was there, there was a front line," Logano said. "That's all you can ask for. Got to second place, and Willie messed with (turn) 4 and let me go to him, and he did a really good job of break-checking ... he did what He should have, and I got all filled behind him, and I couldn't accelerate from the corner and needed me to be down in 3 to execute the ol' bump-and-run.
"He couldn't quite get it, but his corner entry was really strong, which I think allowed him to be strong enough there. Overall, the Shell-Penzoil Mustang had a solid run. Just close to winning Hate to be and not to be. But big points today, and it just stings. The other just sucks sometimes, that's it."
Austin finished a strong third behind Dillon Logano, with Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain claiming fourth and fifth place respectively.
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Eric Almirola, Chase Briscoe and Elliott rounded out the top 10. Elliott leads the series standings by three points from second-placed Blaney. Byron is 12 points behind in third.
Elliott won the first two stages, but Byrne won the pit road race under caution at the break of the second leg and remained in front for 118 laps until he made a circle of green-flag stops in the middle of the final stage. Did not come on pit road during
Blaney held the top spot for five laps before making his final stop, and Byron regained the lead when Blaney came to the pit road on lap 308.
Following the completion of the green-flag cycle, NASCAR called the race's third warning when Denny Hamlin's poorly handled car stalled on a pothole road. Byron retained control of the race after the subsequent lap 325 restart, with Austin Dillon taking second to Joey Logano.
This was the last yellow flag until the last warning on lap 393. Two warnings for a stage break at the Cup Race in Martinsville as well as four were the fewest warnings since 1997. Again, Saturday night's race was shortened from 500 to 400 laps. ,
Next Sunday for the Cup Series is the game's second dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway (7 p.m. on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Logano won the opening ceremony in 2021.