Bluegrass Sports Nation

Byron Takes Homestead

Anthony Holbrook

William Byron Homestead 2-28-21 USA Today

Charlotte native William Byron dominating 102 Laps of 267 lap-race captures his second NASCAR Cup Series career victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Miami, Fla.  – February 28, 2021

The NASCAR Cup Series wrapped up the south beach swing to the South Beaches of the Sunshine State Sunday, Feb 28, 2021 for the Dixie Vodka 400 hosted by Homestead-Miami Speedway, NASCAR opened the gates for race spectators for 10,000 fans under pandemic restrictions.

Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway was set by applying the statistical formula that NASCAR utilized for the majority of its 2021 races. Denny Hamlin awarded pole position by virtue of the mathematical formula.

Stages 80–80–107

267 Laps ( 400.5 miles)

Fuel Run 61-66 Laps

Competition Caution – Lap 25

Dixie Vodka 400   – Stage 1 Recap:

80 Laps

Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, &  Corie LaJoie will start from the rear for unapproved car adjustments leaving Joey Logano to lead the pack.

Brad Keselowski muscles the lead from Logano and opens up a 3 1/2 second lead over his teammate as the competition caution waves.

Lap 31 of 80 in Stage 1, Keselowski and Logano still 1-2 position on the 1.5 mile oval. Last year winner Denny Hamlin moving up to 19th. 

Eight laps to go in Stage 1, Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher battle both the track and each other collectively. Martin Truex Jr. wants to hunt breaking the top five.

Chris Buescher easily advanced, drives away convincingly, collecting his second career Stage win.

Dixie Vodka 400   – Stage 1 Results:

  1. Chris Buescher
  2. Brad Keselowski
  3. Martin Truex Jr.
  4. William Byron
  5. Alex Bowman
  6. Kyle Larson
  7. Joey Logano
  8. Chase Elliott
  9. Kurt Busch
  10. Austin Dillion

Dixie Vodka 400  –  Stage 2  Recap:

80 Laps

Chase Elliott leads the field out of the restart as a pack of hungry drivers breathing down his neck.

Impressive showing for Hamlin, starting in the rear working his way to 10th setting his sights to the front.

24 laps to go in Stage 2, Martin Truex Jr. secures the lead for the first time this season.

A Corey LaJoie caution with 6 laps to go allows teams to pit for final shoot out.

Final Stage lap, Denny Hamlin blocks his teammate, opening the door for William Byron to steal the points.

Dixie Vodka 400  –  Stage 2 Results:

  1. William Byron
  2. Denny Hamlin
  3. Kurt Busch
  4. Martin Truex Jr.
  5. Kyle Larson
  6. Chris Buescher
  7. Kevin Harvick
  8. Ryan Blaney
  9. Alex Bowman
  10. Brad Keselowski

Dixie Vodka 400   – Final Stage Recap:

107 Laps

William Byron and Hamlin occupy the 1-2 spot in the restart as approaching Drivers fight for position.

With 91 laps remaining, William Byron secures the lead with Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin battling for second. Chris Buescher would fade to 19th place after a disappointing restart.

William Byron, Truex Jr., Larson, Cole Custer, (Kurt) Busch are the top five with double-nickels left in contest.

William Byron continues to hold his own with 28 laps remaining with Larson and Truex Jr. rounding out the top three.

William Byron flawless final laps keep the pack at hand, holding a 3 second lead on runner up Tyler Reddick followed by Martin Truex Jr. in the Sand Box.

William Byron checks off his 2nd career NASCAR Series victory in the Sunshine State.  Byron first win at Daytona in August additionally landed him a 2020 Playoff position.

Dixie Vodka 400   Final Stage Results

  1. William Byron
2. Tyler Reddick
3. Martin Truex Jr
4. Kyle Larson
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Michael McDowell
7. Ryan Newman
8. Kurt Busch
9. Alex Bowman
10. Kyle Busch
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Austin Dillon
13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
14. Chase Elliott
15. Daniel Suarez
16. Brad Keselowski
17. Ross Chastain
18. Chase Briscoe
19. Chris Buescher
20. Christopher Bell
21. Ryan Preece
22. Bubba Wallace
23. Cole Custer
24. Anthony Alfredo
25. Joey Logano
26. Justin Haley
27. Erik Jones
28. Matt DiBenedetto
29. Ryan Blaney
30. Aric Almirola
31. Garrett Smithley
32. Cody Ware
33. Josh Bilicki
34. BJ McLeod
35. Quin Houff
36. Corey LaJoie
37. James Davison
38. Timmy Hill     The NASCAR Series travels west for a two-week stretch, beginning with the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube hosted by Las Vegas Motor Speedway :  Sunday, March 7th @ 3.30 p.m. E.T.   FOX  PRN  NASCAR Sirius XM 90.   Joey Logano is the defending 2020 race winner.

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