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William Byron Races to First Win at Kansas

Eighteen-year-old Camping World Truck Series rookie William Byron raced his way to his first win of his young career at Kansas Speedway Friday evening. The Kyle Busch-owned #9 Liberty University Toyota pulled away in the waning moments of the Toyota Tundra 250 when drivers Johnny Sauter and Ben Rhodes collided in Turn 3 leaving the door wide open for William Byron. Byron re-started in the third position in overtime after leading 36 of the 167 laps turned. It was the greenhorn’s first career victory in five official starts.

“It was crazy the last couple of restarts, and I had the lead there on the green-flag run (before the caution that forced overtime), and I was really just praying for no cautions, but you have to earn it,” William Byron said.

 “And my crew chief, Rudy Fugle, really told me about that on all the restarts. He’s like, ‘This is how you earn it,’ so I just can’t thank (sponsor) Liberty University enough. This is a dream come true. I was six years old watching Truck races. Didn’t start racing until I was 14, and just to be in a Toyota Tundra like this is amazing.”

None of this could have occurred if the contact between the two front runners didn’t happen on the crucial last lap of the event. Ben Rhodes drove his #41 Toyota tundra hard into Turn 3, clipping the inside of Johnny Sauter. The aggressive move caused the two to slip up into the outside wall and brought out the race’s 11th caution flag. Sauter, who was out in front at the time, was not to happy with the aggressive driving of Rhodes.

“I just got ran over by a bozo … I guess he’s just brain dead,” an irate Sauter said after the incident. “It’s just unfortunate that sometimes you can’t race the way you want to.”

Former Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton finished an impressive third. Crafton led a race high 57 laps but could ran out of time in his attempt to run down the rookie William Byron. Crafton kept his Ideal Door/Menards Toyota out front for a third of the race and settled for the second place finish with a smile.

Daniel Hemric, who drives for NASCAR regular Brad Keselowski, ended the contest in third. Hemric and his Oakmont Management Group Ford didn’t lead a single lap in the race but managed to get a huge boost in his climb towards the top of the point standings.

The Kyle Busch owned JBL Toyota driven by Christopher Bell had an impressive fourth place finish. Bell was in contention till the very end when he re-started in the fifth position in overtime. Bell actually was right on race winner William Byron’s bumper but couldn’t produce enough momentum to real in the eventual winner.

Another NASCAR veteran, Clint Bowyer, drove to a the sixth place finish. The #24 Georgia Boot Chevrolet did not lead a lap at Kansas Speedway but benefited from the contact between the front runners.

Tyler Reddick and his Cooper Standard Ford was a formidable hot-rod throughout the race. Reddick led his truck to the front of the field for 56 circuits, which was good for second in laps led. What ruined the Brad Keselowski owned Fords bid for a win was he spun on lap 164, bringing out the contest’s 10th caution. Reddick ended up in a disappointing 13th place finish.

The 2016 Toyota Tundra 250 took a little over two hours and twenty minutes to conclude. There were 11 cautions during the race that used up 47 laps around the 1.5 mile oval. The average speed of the lightning fast trucks was 108.511 and the margin of victory was decided under the yellow caution flag. The Keystone Light Pole Award went to John Wes Townsley with a qualifying speed of 177.223 miles per hour. The Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race went to the #88 truck of Matt Crafton and the Mobile 1 Driver of the Race went to race winner William Byron.

Final Results for the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway:

1 9 William Byron 2 170 34
5 Position Up
Running 36 4
2 88 Matt Crafton 13 170 57
5 Position Up
Running 33 2
3 19 Daniel Hemric 9 170 0
5 Position Up
Running 30 0
4 4 Christopher Bell 5 170 5
8 Position Up
Running 30 1
5 24 Clint Bowyer 16 170 0
0
Running 0 0
6 81 Ryan Truex 21 170 0
3 Position Up
Running 27 0
7 00 Cole Custer 4 170 0
4 Position Up
Running 26 0
8 17 Timothy Peters 8 170 1
2 Position Up
Running 26 1
9 33 Ben Kenedy 11 170 0
0
Running 24 0
10 23 Spencer Gallagher 32 170 0
1 Position Up
Running 23 0
11 02 Tyler Young 20 170 0
0
Running 22 0
12 86 Brandon Brown 22 170 0
-1 Position Down
Running 21 0
13 29 Tyler Reddick 3 170 56
1 Position Up
Running 21 1
14 11 Matt Tifft 7 170 0
0
Running 19 0
15 07 B J McLeod 25 170 0
0
Running 0 0
16 21 Johnny Sauter 12 170 9
2 Position Up
Running 18 1
17 71 Mike Bliss 17 170 0
11 Position Up
Running 16 0
18 41 Ben Rhodes 10 169 5
-2 Position Down
Running 16 1
19 13 Cameron Hayley 15 169 2
-6 Position Down
Running 15 1
20 50 Travis Kvapil 24 169 0
-1 Position Down
Running 13 0
21 49 Timmy Hill 27 168 0
-1 Position Down
Running 12 0
22 98 Rico Abreu 31 167 0
-3 Position Down
Running 11 0
23 63 Bobby Pierce 26 167 0
0
Running 10 0

Written by Erik the Hun

Erik's love of sports and passion for handicapping dates back over 25 years.

In fact, his handicapping angles and fantasy knowledge separates him from your common savant.

As the co-host of Get more Sport's College Football Throwdown, The Hun also brings his spirit and tenacity to the college football industry, and can fill all your Handicapping and Fantasy needs. He is currently covering the automotive and the college football sections at getmoresports.com

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