Byron makes Earnhardt a champion as owner
Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the best retirement gift he could have asked for when William Byron won the Xfinity Series championship for JR Motorsports on Saturday, one day before Earnhardt’s final race as a full-time driver.
Byron finished third, the best of the four title contenders, in a race at Homestead-Miami Speedway won by Cole Custer.
“This is an incredible feeling,” Byron said. “We learned a lot this year. (Crew chief Dave Elenz) and I got so much better together. We really were at our best the last few races. … It’s a total team effort. It’s really cool.”
Byron, at 19 years, 11 months and 20 days, is the second-youngest driver to win a championship in any of NASCAR’s national series. Chase Elliott was 18 years, 11 months and 18 days when he won the Xfinity title for JRM in 2014. Byron gave JRM its second title.
Elliott graduated to the Cup Series, and Byron is taking over the No. 24 at Hendrick Motorsports next season.
“William did a great job running an awesome race to be as young as he is, he drove like a veteran,” said Earnhardt, who is a part owner of JRM with sister Kelley and boss Rick Hendrick.
JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Elliott Sadler and Byron were up against Daniel Hemric of Richard Childress Racing for the championship Saturday. Hemric appeared up for the challenge at the start and led the title contenders until he headed to pit road with a dead battery early in the second stage.
That sealed the title for JRM, and the organization only had to watch to see which of its three drivers would take the crown. Sadler and Byron had a spirited battle for the championship but Byron passed Sadler for good with nine laps remaining.
Sadler has finished second in the standings four times in the past seven years.
“I know Elliott is probably really disappointed,” Earnhardt said. “It’s hard to watch any of your guys lose one.”