Byron Beats Bell

Darren Abate/Associated Press

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix:

William Byron secured his second win of the 2024 campaign on Sunday at Circuit of the Americas. Byron, who dominated the race leading 42 of 68 laps, winning practice and the pole, becomes the first driver since Jeff Gordon to be the first driver to multiple wins in three consecutive seasons after he took the checkered flag on Sunday afternoon. But it did not come as easy as it appeared as Byron had to be perfect to hold off a late charge from Christopher Bell who had the fastest car on the last run of the day.

Sunday's race was best described as "natural." It played out with little interference; no natural cautions throughout the 68 laps just the two stage breaks. It was not the most exciting race but compelling nonetheless. It missed out on the cluster of the stupid restarts into turn one of years past and that likely played a role into why the race was caution free. Couple that with the years experience on the track and the overall size of COTA, it is easy for cars to spread out and have ample space to recover from contact, spins, and mistakes. Thus, leaving us with a straight up, car v. car race we had on Sunday. Even with the lack of chaos the race still had plenty of action on track with contact amongst competitors and pit strategy. The most compelling story from Sunday was the pit strategy and how that led to Christopher Bell's late charge on the dominant 24 car as the race approached its end.

Yet it was too little too late for CBell and his number 20 team on Sunday. They never got the caution they (and honestly a healthy amount of folks likely expected at some point), they had a slow final pitstop, they were held up by teammate Ty Gibbs (rightfully so), and Byron and the 24 team executed perfectly from the drop of the tailgate first first practice all the way to the checkered flag falling. Byron secured his second win, burned it down, and celebrated with Giancarlo Esposito in victory lane.

But as these two duked it out over the last several laps, it prompted me to think: is this the championship battle? Bell v. Byron? If not this year, but for years to come. I know last week I wrote how Denny Hamlin seems poised. Confident, competing, and performing with what appears to be no stress. Yet, Bell and Byron appear to be two of the best and most consistent this year. Winning races, competing at every track, driving top equipment, and young. The 20 and 24 have been Playoff Four contenders recently, have won multiple races the last few years, and have all the makings to be a dominant duo for years to come. Now, there is still a lot of racing left on the season but these two, and particularly as they battle each other, will be worth keeping an eye on as we progress through the 2024 season.

Now we head off to the Commonwealth of Virginia to Richmond Raceway for the Toyota Owners 400 on Easter Sunday evening at 7 p.m. on FOX. I am excited to see how the short track package performs on an actual short track, and if it helps the racing at Richmond. I personally have always like racing at Richmond but it has fallen off the last few years, and am hopeful that the short track package works and bring the 3/4 mile track back to its glory days.

Picks: Cup: Denny Hamlin

Xfinity: Chandler Smith