In just his fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, 18-year-old William Byron claimed his first career victory with a win in the Toyota Tundra 250 Friday night at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
Byron won the race when the No. 1 and No. 2 leaders, Johnny Sauter and Ben Rhodes, made contact on the final lap, allowing Byron to advance to the No. 1 spot.
“It was crazy the last couple restarts,” Byron said. “I had the lead on the green flag run and I was praying for no cautions. But you have to earn it.”
Byron, who graduates high school in Charlotte, N.C., on May 27, claimed his second top-10 finish of 2016.
“This is a dream come true. I was 6 years old watching truck races and I didn’t start racing until I was 14,” Byron said. “To be in a Toyota Tundra [and win] like this is amazing.”
Team owner Kyle Busch was happy to see Byron get his first win.
“It’s pretty special to have William Byron win this early in his career,” Busch said.
Kansas City, Kan., driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary of NASCAR driving this year, finished 24th in the truck race.
Matt Crafton, who is a two-time Truck Series winner at Kansas Speedway (2013, 2015), posted his eighth top-10 finish in his 16 career races at Kansas Speedway.
Timothy Peters, who finished eighth in tonight’s Toyota Tundra 250, leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series by eight points over Daniel Hemric. Hemric finished third in the Toyota Tundra 250 while posting his second career top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway. Byron is in seventh place, trailing Peters by 16 points.
Emporia, Kan.-native Clint Bowyer finished fifth in the Toyota Tundra 250, his first Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway since 2011, which he won.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, Martin Truex Jr. captured the pole for Saturday’s Go Bowling 400, his eighth career pole and first since April 2012 at Texas.
Tickets for Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 are available at the Kansas Speedway ticket office from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday and then at Kansas Speedway’s Gate B starting at noon.
Parking is free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.
Fans can follow Kansas Speedway on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/kansasspeedway or follow on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@kansasspeedway).
