William Byron Confident Heading Into Atlanta After Daytona Wrecks

Byron remains optimistic about his chances at Atlanta Motor Speedway despite a tough Daytona 500 filled with crashes and setbacks.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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William Byron began the season aiming for his third Daytona 500 victory, but multiple wrecks during the race dramatically altered his plans, forcing him into a difficult day filled with crashes and mechanical issues. Despite the setbacks at Daytona, Byron remains confident as he prepares for the upcoming race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he has two career victories and four top-10 finishes.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR, and a strong performance can set the tone for a driver's entire season. While Byron's Daytona experience was marred by crashes and setbacks, his confidence heading into Atlanta suggests he believes he can rebound and contend for victories as the season progresses.

The details

Byron's troubles started in the Duel qualifying race on Thursday, where a crash forced him to rely on a backup car and begin Sunday's Daytona 500 at the back of the pack. Just five laps into the main event, he became caught in a pileup caused when B.J. McLeod's No. 78 car lost control, inflicting damage to the right side of Byron's vehicle. Later, during Stage 2, another large crash involving approximately 20 drivers swept Byron into the wreck. He also made contact with the wall on Lap 57 without prompting a caution, further disrupting his race. Finally, on the last lap, Byron was trapped behind a crash involving race leader Carson Hocevar.

  • On Thursday, Byron was involved in a crash in the Duel qualifying race, forcing him to start the Daytona 500 in a backup car.
  • Just 5 laps into the Daytona 500, Byron became caught in a pileup caused by B.J. McLeod's No. 78 car, damaging the right side of his vehicle.
  • During Stage 2 of the Daytona 500, Byron was swept into another large crash involving approximately 20 drivers.
  • On Lap 57 of the Daytona 500, Byron made contact with the wall without prompting a caution.
  • On the final lap of the Daytona 500, Byron was trapped behind a crash involving race leader Carson Hocevar.

The players

William Byron

A NASCAR driver who was aiming for his third Daytona 500 victory but faced multiple crashes and setbacks during the race.

B.J. McLeod

A NASCAR driver whose car lost control and caused a pileup that damaged Byron's vehicle early in the Daytona 500.

Carson Hocevar

A NASCAR driver who was leading the Daytona 500 on the final lap when a crash occurred that trapped Byron behind it.

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What they’re saying

“I do have confidence, though, in that we'll show up with a good car and have a good shot again as long as we're there in the end.”

— William Byron, Driver

“The difference between Atlanta and Daytona though is that handling plays a bigger factor this weekend than it did last. Qualifying is the only lap you get to try get a feel for what you have. We have a pretty good notebook for there, so hopefully we unload close and can fine tune for Sunday.”

— William Byron, Driver

What’s next

Byron will look to rebound at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he has two career victories and four top-10 finishes. Many in the garage view Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott as leading contenders, but Byron sits just behind this group as he aims to make a stronger impact moving forward in the NASCAR season.

The takeaway

Despite the setbacks at Daytona, William Byron remains confident in his ability to perform well at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he has proven he can win and contend for top finishes. His determined mindset and experience at the track position him as a driver capable of rebounding and making a stronger push in the NASCAR season.