William Byron Captures Clyde Hart Memorial, Another New Smyrna Win

When William Byron straps into his Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Wednesday night to qualify for the Daytona 500, he’ll already have two wins this week under his belt.

Byron backed up his Monday night Super Late Model win at New Smyrna Speedway’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing by taking the Clyde Hart Memorial on Tuesday night.

“Any time you can win, it’s great mojo and a great feeling,” Byron told Racing America. “Keep the momentum and hopefully keep it rolling on Sunday.”

Byron started the race in the 10^th position after a disappointing qualifying effort, but methodically worked his way through the field before taking the lead on lap 55 of the 100-lap, $10,000-to-win ASA Southern Super Series season opener.

“I just did a really bad job in qualifying, making race laps instead of qualifying laps and started 10^th and had to work my way through. It was tricky at the beginning, a lot of sketchy moments and three-wide and such. Just had to stay patient, keep the fenders on it.

With the win, Byron has now won four races at New Smyrna in the past year. That success has come as a bit of a surprise to Byron as he has ramped up his Super Late Model apparances in the past year.

“It’s pretty crazy. I didn’t picture that when we came down here last year to have so much success here. It’s been a good track. I think the Super suits my style. You can’t do any of this without a good race car.”

Part of Byron’s fortune in working through the field also happened to be the misfortune of others. Both Stephen Nasse and Bubba Pollard experienced issues after leading in the first half of the race – the latter while running in the top spot, and William Sawalich also was in contention for the win before falling by the wayside.

“Those guys were really good. If they didn’t have issues, it would have been a tight battle. I don’t know what would have happened at the end of the race, because I think our car was more for the long run tonight. I’m not sure how that would have played out, but it’s a bummer those guys had those issues.

Jake Finch finished second, while Casey Roderick completed the podium. Connor Mosack and Gio Ruggiero rounded out the top five.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - CLYDE HART MEMORIAL
FEBRUARY 14, 2023

1. William Byron
2. Jake Finch
3. Casey Roderick
4. Connor Mosack
5. Gio Ruggiero
6. Matt Craig
7. Derek Griffith
8. Gabe Sommers
9. Jett Noland
10. James Lynch
11. Bubba Pollard
12. Michael Hinde
13. Kris Wright
14. Austin Teras
15. Tony Elrod
16. Steve Weaver, Jr.
17. Chris Durbin
18. Nicholas Naugle
19. Johnny Sauter
20. Bobby Good
21. Justin Crider
22. Timothy Watson
23. William Sawalich
24. Tommy Catalano
25. Brad May
26. Conner Jones
27. Hunter Robbins
28. Billy VanMeter
29. Stephen Nasse
30. Stewart Friesen
31. Brandon Short