Byron Closes In On East Title

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With only two races left in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East headed into the UNOH 100 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, 17 year-old-rookie William Byron is narrowing in on the championship title.

The Charlotte, N.C., native is leading the series standings by 15 points over HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks teammate Scott Heckert (471-456 points). His lead is the highest in all of NASCAR’s Touring and Weekly Series, not including the NASCAR Mexico Series or the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, which have playoff rounds.

The 2015-16 NASCAR Next member has had a challenging, up-and-down season. He had a significant lead in the standings after winning four of eight races to start the season. After earning his fourth victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he was up 29 points over Austin Hill and 33 points over Heckert.

Byron went on the finish 13th in the East (19th overall) at Iowa Speedway in July to carry a 25-point lead over Heckert and 33 over Hill. The first road course of the year, New York’s Watkins Glen International, proved to be the turning point for Heckert’s championship push. Heckert won the race at the famed road course and Byron finished seventh, to cut his lead over his teammate to just 14 points. An eighth place finish for Byron at Pennsylvania’s Motordrome Speedway and a fourth place finish for Heckert cut Byron’s lead to just 12.

The series last race at VIRginia International Raceway allowed Byron to leave with a 15-point lead over Heckert, despite his 10th place finish. Heckert led three times for 36 laps before rear end issues ended his day on Lap 46 to finish 15th

Headed into Richmond, Byron is ready to finish the season on a high note.

“Richmond is an important race for our Liberty University/HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks team. We still have personal goals that we want to accomplish before this season is over. I’m looking forward to racing for two more wins and finishing off my first year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series well.”

NASCAR PR

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