William Byron makes history by winning yet again in Truck Series
With his boss at Kyle Busch Motorsports unexpectedly crashed out of Thursday night's Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway, rookie William Byron took it upon himself to make history.
Byron, who is only 18 years old, did so by winning the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 on the 1.5-mile track, claiming his fourth victory in the 10th race of his inaugural season in the series. That ties him with -- you guessed it -- Kyle Busch for most wins by a rookie in series history.
And there are still 13 races left in the season.
"The kid just gets it," Ryan Fugle, Byron's crew chief, said of his young driver.
Byron's win also was the 51st in the history of the Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports -- most in series history.
“I can’t say enough about this organization," Byron said after his third win in the last four races. "It’s so awesome to have Kyle and (Kyle's wife) Samantha's support, Toyota’s support with great Toyota Tundras and great JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) engines tonight. It’s a dream come true to get a win like this. It just keeps going. I have a great team behind me."
Busch frequently dominates Truck Series races he enters as a driver, but that wasn't the case Thursday night.
Busch crashed out on Lap 57 and failed to lead a lap for the first time in his last 29 series starts.
Busch's No. 18 Toyota slammed hard into the outside wall after getting clipped by the No. 23 truck driven by Spencer Gallagher -- the same driver who was fined and put on probation for wrecking and getting into a fight with fellow NCWTS driver John Wes Townley in the previous Truck Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park.
Busch was running 13th at the time, having worked his way up after dropping back in the field because of an early pit-road penalty for his team having too many crew members over the wall.
"It was was self-inflicted, I guess. I got caught back in traffic," Busch told FOX Sports after being checked out and released from the infield care center. "I thought I left enough room on the inside. I know who I wrecked with, so that doesn't surprise me. Now I know how John Wes Townley feels.
"It's just a shame. It was a really good piece, you know. And it's destroyed."
Busch could take some consolation in the fact that one of his other KBM drivers, Byron, was able to make it to Victory Lane, setting a record for all-time wins in the series by the organization that bears Busch's name.
Byron did so by holding off Daniel Hemric and, ultimately, John Hunter Nemechek over the final 40 laps. Hemric ran second for most of the those final laps, but eventually gave way to Nemechek. Neither could catch Byron.
Rounding out the top five behind Byron, Nemechek and Hemric were Christopher Bell and Johnny Sauter.
Byron led a race-high 70 laps in all.
