With the way that William Byron and Ty Gibbs had battled for the lead throughout Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Watkins Glen, everybody knew that the battle for the victory was going to be intense.
Well, that assumption was spot-on…
After a late-race restart, William Byron and Ty Gibbs were side-by-side for the lead entering the bus stop, when the Joe Gibbs Racing driver slid wide in the apex, sending both himself and William Byron spinning.
Ty Gibbs loses it and takes William Byron with him!
The leaders are out of it as Kyle Larson takes the lead. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/XTsurXNEf8
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 20, 2022
The two drivers had combined to lead 60 of 77 laps to that point in the event, with easily the two quickest cars in the field, so understandably, both drivers were frustrated after being relegated to finishes outside the top-20.
Byron, a four-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, felt the need to send a message to the 19-year-old about how upset he was, sending the No. 54 for an extra loop between turns six and seven.
TEMPERS FLARE ?@WilliamByron was not happy with @TyGibbs_ after their contact that took them both out of contention in the closing laps.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Nqy5MouZdF
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) August 20, 2022
After the race, both drivers would convene on pit road and have a discussion, with the difference of opinions being resolved in a manner much calmer than in previous instances for the 19-year-old, who will make his fifth NASCAR Cup Series start on Sunday.
#NASCAR … William Byron and Ty Gibbs talk after the race after their incident battling for the lead late in the Xfinity race pic.twitter.com/Hl5hsaWrUU
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) August 20, 2022
