The NASCAR circus arrived at the Chicago Street Race this weekend, and while drivers were excited to return to the new track, William Byron faced a notable setback. Byron, a prominent figure in this season’s Cup Series, suffered from a critical power steering issue during the qualifying round which pushed his team into making rapid repairs. Unfortunately, this mechanical hiccup mandated the North Carolina driver to start from the rear of the field in the upcoming race, complicating his path to a potential victory amid already challenging conditions.
Power steering, essential for navigating the tight and demanding street circuit, became a tough subject for Byron’s team as they scrambled to address the issue. The Chicago track, known for its tight turns and unforgiving concrete barriers, presents a formidable challenge even without the added difficulty of compromised vehicle control. Starting at the back, Byron now faces the monumental task of overtaking the entire field to salvage a respectable finish — a scenario that undoubtedly tests not just the car’s limits, but also the driver’s skill itself.
This incident is particularly disheartening considering Byron’s recent track record. The driver has secured three victories this season but has found himself in a bit of a slump over the summer, with his last win recorded three months ago at Martinsville. Although he managed to collect a couple of third-place finishes and a second place at Iowa, these results have been shadowed by his need for a strong comeback to break out of this dry spell.
The troubles weren’t isolated to Byron alone. Fellow drivers Josh Berry and Brad Keselowski also endured their own hardships during the qualifying sessions. Berry hit the wall and Keselowski crashed, pricing just how difficult this new track is.
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Amidst these challenges, the dynamics within Hendrick Motorsports, Byron’s team, painted a mixed picture. While Byron and team cohort Chase Elliott missed the final qualifying round, their teammates Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson found better fortune. Larson, in particular, showcased a shot of skill by clinching the pole position with a speed of 90.168 mph, followed by Ty Gibbs (90.158 mph) and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell (90.141 mph).
Grant Park 165 at Chicago Qualifying Results
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- Michael McDowell, No. 34 Ford
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Ford
- Justin Haley, No. 51 Ford
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- Noah Gragson, No. 10 Ford
- Ryan Preece, No. 41 Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 71 Chevrolet
- Harrison Burton, No. 21 Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- Austin Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet
- Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 4 Ford
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 13 Chevrolet
- Joey Hand, No. 60 Ford
- Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Ford (did not attempt qualifying lap)
- Kaz Grala, No. 15 Ford
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