NASCAR Star William Byron Stuns Field with Thrilling Last-Lap Victory – Watch Highlights & Expert Reactions

William Byron’s latest triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway has super-charged his 2025 season and sent NASCAR fans scrambling for updates on the 27-year-old Hendrick Motorsports star. On Saturday, the Charlotte native fought back from a late Stage 2 pit-road speeding penalty to win the overtime-extended BetMGM 300 Xfinity Series race, muscling past Justin Allgaier on fresher tires and holding off a chaotic final-lap charge. Momentum Builder Ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 Byron’s part-time Xfinity appearances are designed to sharpen his race-craft for the NASCAR Cup Series, and Saturday’s result comes at the perfect time: Sunday’s marquee Coca-Cola 600, run on the same 1.5-mile oval, offers the No. 24 Chevrolet driver a chance to translate that speed into Cup-level points and another trophy. Byron already owns 14 career Cup victories, including back-to-back Daytona 500 wins, and currently leads the series standings after a runner-up showing at Darlington two weeks ago. Four-Year Contract Locks in a Championship Window The win capped a headline-filled week for the Charlotte High graduate. On Friday, Hendrick Motorsports announced a four-year contract extension that keeps Byron in the famed No. 24 through 2029, pairing him long-term with crew chief Rudy Fugle and continuing one of the garage’s most potent driver-engineer partnerships. Team owner Rick Hendrick called Byron “a franchise cornerstone,” while Byron emphasized the stability it gives his championship pursuit. How Byron Won at Charlotte • Restart mastery: Byron lined up third for the final green-white-checkered restart and timed his launch perfectly, clearing Allgaier before Turn 1. • Tire strategy: A late four-tire call gave him fresher Goodyears than every other lead-lap car. • Traffic navigation: After the penalty dropped him outside the top 15, Byron sliced through the field in just 25 laps, averaging passes every 1.5 miles. What It Means for the Playoffs Because the BetMGM 300 was an Xfinity event, Cup Series playoff eligibility is unchanged, but the momentum surge is real. Byron has earned stage points in 10 straight Cup races, and his average finish of 6.8 on 1.5-mile tracks leads the series. The extended contract also eliminates silly-season distractions, allowing the No. 24 team to focus solely on its title run. Fan Reaction and Social Buzz Hashtag #WilliamByron trended within minutes of the checkered flag as fans praised his comeback drive and discussed the symbolism of winning in the No. 17 JR Motorsports Chevrolet—Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s old number—just one day after signing the Hendrick extension. Motorsport personalities, including Jeff Gordon and Kyle Larson, tweeted congratulations, while broadcasters predicted Byron could sweep the holiday weekend. Next Up Green flag for the Coca-Cola 600 drops at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. If Byron converts Saturday’s momentum into a Cup victory, he would become the first driver since Kyle Busch (2010) to win in two national series at Charlotte on consecutive days. With fresh contract security, the points lead, and now an Xfinity victory in his pocket, William Byron is poised to turn a hot May into a defining summer stretch—and NASCAR’s rising star might just be the driver everyone has to chase in 2025.