NASCAR driver barred from Indianapolis qualifying

William Byron will not be allowed to partake in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

While he was still permitted to practice in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series ractice session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron is not allowed to partake in Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session for Sunday afternoon’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.

The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet will be forced to start Sunday afternoon’s 82-lap race around the 13-turn, 2.439-kilometer (3.935-kilometer) Speedway, Indiana road course from the rear of the field in 39th (last) place after his car failed inspection three times on Friday.

Byron must also serve a drive-through penalty after taking the green flag in Sunday’s race, though this won’t hurt nearly as much as it would on an oval track, where he could lose a lap. The No. 24 team also lost pit stall selection and had their car chief ejected.

In two career starts at the track, Byron has two DNFs.

William Byron is having a career year in his sixth season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

He currently finds himself sitting in third place in the point standings, though he would be in second if not for a 60-point penalty issued to him and his team back in April following the race at Richmond Raceway.

He leads all drivers with four wins, seven stage wins, and 22 playoff points, despite the fact that his April penalty also carried a deduction of five playoff points.

DraftKings Sportsbook, which is offering fans an instant $150 just for betting $5, lists Byron as the fourth favorite to win this year’s championship at +700.

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Tune in to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday afternoon for the live broadcast of the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. If you have not yet had the chance to start a free trial of FuboTV, do so now!