Daytona Beach, FL - In a stunning turn of events at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR has ejected Rudy Fugle, crew chief for William Byron, following a violation discovered after Byron's car successfully passed inspection on Friday. This unexpected penalty throws a wrench into Byron's plans for the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Byron, fresh off clinching the regular season championship just last weekend in Richmond, now faces a significant setback. He will be forced to start at the rear of the field in Saturday night's race and serve a stop-and-go penalty after the green flag drops. Furthermore, the team has lost its pit stall selection, compounding the challenges ahead.
NASCAR officials stated that Byron's team made an unapproved adjustment to the car's splitter after it had already passed inspection on the second attempt. Specifically, struts were reinstalled, causing the car to fail a subsequent run over the Underbody Scanning Station (UBSS). While the violation is serious, NASCAR has confirmed that Byron and his team will not face any further penalties beyond those already imposed.
The 2025 regular season will conclude at Daytona, setting the stage for the playoff field. The drama doesn't end with Byron, though. NASCAR also announced that the No. 78 car of BJ McLeod failed inspection twice. As a result, car chief Lee Lesile was ejected, and the team also forfeited its pit stall selection.
What's Next for Byron?
Despite the setback, Byron remains a strong contender. His skill and determination, combined with a potentially aggressive strategy, could allow him to overcome the challenges and fight for a top finish. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 promises to be an action-packed event with playoff implications, and this latest development only adds to the excitement.
How to Watch
- Race: Coke Zero Sugar 400
- Location: Daytona International Speedway
- What to Watch For: Byron's comeback, playoff implications