HAMPTON, Ga. -- William Byron had a freight train in his rearview mirror. A sitting duck, it seemed. Fortunately for him, all those challengers started jostling against each other rather than working together to take down the leader.
While Byron cruised to the checkered flag for the third victory of NASCAR Cup career, one last crash unfolded behind him Sunday in an appropriate finish to a chaotic, thrilling race at remodeled Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"Pretty wild," the 24-year-old Byron said. "I'm out of breath. It was crazy."
The reconfigured track -- with new pavement and steeper banking -- lived up to predictions of frenzied pack racing at blistering speeds approaching those seen at Talladega and Daytona.