“Rigged, Micky Mouse win”- Fans react as William Byron wins Atlanta Cup race after red-flag stoppage due to rain

Hendrick Motorsports No:24 Chevy Camaro Zl1 driver William Byron was awarded the win in the second Atlanta Cup race of 2023. It’s the fourth win of the season for the HMS driver and makes him the winningest driver on the current grid. The caution was called on lap 178 following Ryan Peerce‘s spin, and it was red-flagged soon after due to heavy rain.

NASCAR had to set a makeshift victory lane in the media launch to award the winner’s trophy to William Byron. He survived an early spin and started at the back of the grid to make his way to the top and secure the win.  Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez was at P2 when the race was called off, and AJ Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing was awarded P3.

In his post-race interview, Byron credited the teamwork for his win and said he was a bit surprised to get his first rain-shortened win. He pointed out that he is proud of the team’s efforts amidst all the chaos. Byron told NBC after the race, “Honestly, I don’t completely understand this one. It’s a really good feeling.” He also complained about a lack of grip at the start of the race.

Michael McDowell ended the day as the highest-finishing Ford in track, where they have historically been dominant. Kyle Busch scored yet again and finished inside the Top 10 (p5). Brad Keselowski, JJ Yeley, Ryan Blaney, Justin Haley, and 202 3 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr secured the remaining positions in the Top 10.

The biggest crash of the day involved Austin Hill and Trackhouse’s Ross Chastain. Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin were involved in yet another incident at the track, while HMS’s Kyle Larson also had an early spin that collected Chase Briscoe. The final caution was due to Ryan Preece’s spin, which Bubba Wallace prompted.

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Here is how fans reacted to William Byron’s win

NASCAR fans were quick to express their disappointment at seeing rain ruining yet another impressive race for the fans. While some fans were excited to see Byron on the victory lane, few weren’t and accused NASCAR of calling off the race early to favor the HMS driver. Some also used the opportunity to troll the driver.  

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