# William Byron's Crew Chief Explains Teammate Help

> Hendrick Motorsports crew chief William Byron's team chief balances stage wins and teammate support.
- Title: William Byron's Crew Chief Explains Teammate Help | Shortify
- Summary: Hendrick Motorsports crew chief William Byron's team chief balances stage wins and teammate support. William Byron's crew chief prioritized his team's stage…
- Keywords: william byron, kyle larson, hendrick motorsports, nascar, xfinity 500, stage 1, free pass rule, championship, sports, William, Byron's, Crew
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-william-byrons-crew-chief-openly-details-paddock-reality-of-helping-teammates-on-track
- Author: Debrup Chaudhuri
- Published: 2026-11-02T22:17:02+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: william byron, kyle larson, hendrick motorsports, nascar, xfinity 500, stage 1, free pass rule, championship, sports
## Martinsville Championship Race Dilemma
At Martinsville, Hendrick Motorsports faced a choice between helping teammate Kyle Larson stay on lead lap or securing William Byron's stage win.

> It’s really tough; it’s stressful
## Crew Chief Fugle's Decision
Rudy Fugle prioritized William Byron's stage win over Kyle Larson's lead lap position despite Larson's championship relevance.

> So we are always going to look out for us first
## Stage 1 Strategy
During Stage 1 of the Xfinity 500, several teams pitted for fresh tires while Denny Hamlin, Larson, and Ryan Preece stayed out.
## Byron Takes Lead
William Byron passed Ryan Preece with six laps remaining to take the lead after pitting for fresh tires.
## Free Pass Rule Challenge
NASCAR's free-pass rule allows the first eligible car one lap down to get its lap back during a caution, but timing and positioning matter.
## Larson's Recovery
Kyle Larson recovered after Stage 1 by receiving a free pass during Stage 2's multi-car incident involving Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin.
## Byron's Dominance
William Byron swept both stages, led 362 of 500 laps, and secured his first victory of the season.
## Larson's Championship Position
Kyle Larson left Martinsville with a 67-point advantage over Christopher Bell and a 70-point cushion over Denny Hamlin heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway.
## Team Balance Achieved
Hendrick Motorsports secured a one-two finish with William Byron winning and Kyle Larson finishing ninth despite a lap deficit.
## Key takeaway

William Byron's crew chief prioritized his team's stage win over helping teammate Kyle Larson during a NASCAR race at Martinsville.