Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX - William Byron Interview Following His Win At Martinsville | VICTORY LAP

Episode Date: October 27, 2025

Fresh off his clutch win at Martinsville, William Byron joins Kevin Harvick for this week’s Victory Lap episode. Byron reflects on the high-pressure moment, breaking down his decisive pass on Ryan Blaney that locked him into the Championship 4. He explains what made this victory so special, how his team is preparing for the Championship race in Phoenix, and why this year feels different compared to past playoff runs. Byron and Harvick also share insights into handling pressure at the sport’s highest level — and wrap things up by reliving Byron’s impressive burnout celebration. LINK TO SUBMIT PICKS FOR PHOENIX: https://forms.gle/VRyHMpj8cGTBsWCK8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I've never had this feeling being able to go into a weekend after a win. It already feels different. We're just in a rhythm and a cadence, and hopefully we can keep that going all the way of Sunday. Well, William, that was one of those pressure moments that came through for you guys and to win in a dominant fashion, late restart, late pit stop, total team effort in having to perform.

That had to feel pretty good. Yeah, thanks. Yeah, I did. It was a complete day, honestly, and not without adversity and just different things going on. But, yeah, it came with a game plan there. And, you know, we just felt like we had a good weekend, start to finish, was able to have a pretty good Saturday, obviously. Qualifying was a surprise that it was that good.

And then just being able to execute the race and get through the different runs of the race and track changes. And that last caution and that restart was definitely, nerve-wracking, but I just felt like we kind of channeled everything that we were building throughout the year to get that done. So when you go through a moment like that, and we talked about a little bit on our show today, I was back in 2015, one of the biggest conversations that we had as a team was how do we perform like that on a weekly basis to be able to have that preparation and mental focus? Now, there's going to be things that happen because that was something that Jimmy and Chad were so freaking good at through the years and showing up like that every week.

So did you guys learn any? What did you learn about yourselves? I know you learned something. What did you learn about yourself after going to Martinsville? To me, I think that the relief and the pressure when you got out of that car was super visible. It was just like, oh, my God, thank God, that worked out. But what did you learn about yourself and your team, you know, after a race weekend like that? yeah i think we just finally capitalize and i think um it was a it was just a really cerebral weekend

just the way that we were able to manage it and and get through it um i just felt like we were able to just put all the pieces together and i think the other races we've had this year that that haven't exactly gone the way we wanted to um just were lessons for us and i said that the media center. I feel like those moments and those opportunities that we've been through just helped shape us. And, you know, I think those experiences just give you things to fall back on. And you just, if you can learn from them and focus internally and just find a different level of motivation, it usually works out. Momentum is real this time of year. And I think, you know, you look at the difference between your race weekend and the 11 race weekend, you know, 19, some of some of your

competitors. And obviously, you know, that, does that feel any different to you just because of the fact the cars have to leave Tuesday? You talk about the things with the team. Just being able to carry that over into the championship weekend so quickly has to feel pretty good because you don't have to get out of that mindset if you're anything like me. You don't have to get out of that mindset from where you ended on Sunday because the week is so short. Yeah, this is a short week. And, yeah, we've been fortunate to be to, this is our third time, you know, going into this weekend. And it's a, it's a huge blessing.

It's you're fortunate to be a part of the, this championship forward because, you know, you want to be racing for something this weekend. And I feel like, yeah, I just, yeah, I've never had this feeling being able to go into a weekend after a win, you know, honestly, the last couple times we made the championship four, it's been relief and just I've been trying to refocus for this weekend. And I think it already feels different. You know, it already feels like we're just in a rhythm and a cadence,

and hopefully we can keep that rhythm and routine going all the way of Sunday. So based on the spring at Phoenix and everything that you guys have been through this year with different tires and the evolution of downforce. And what do you, how do you feel about, where you're at with your cars. Obviously, they were really fast at Martinsville. You made a good stride, you know, at Loudon and St. Louis, you know, as a company. Where do you feel is the strength for the weekend?

What do you need to work on going to Phoenix to put yourself in a position to have a chance to win this thing? Yeah, I feel really, I feel confident. I feel like our cars are, we've had something that we can drive hard and just manage. and I feel like it just feels good. It feels a lot better, a lot less questions than what we've had in the past going to Phoenix. So, yeah, it's nice also to come off of a short track and be kind of in the routine, as you know, like push the brake pedal, hitting the gas a certain way and just kind of all those little things, it feels nice to be in that rhythm.

So, yeah, I think I'm confident in what we're bringing to the racetrack right now and we feel a lot better than how we've been in years past. So you've been there a couple times already. Tell me what you think you need to do from a time management standpoint, expectation standpoint, compared to the first two times and how you're going to approach this third one. Yeah, it's just, yeah, it sounds boring, but it's just business as usual.

You can't really change a whole lot, you know, going into this weekend. There's a lot of distractions. There's, as you know, there's a ton of things you have to do. And you just can't really change. You just have to, the moment is obviously big, but it's got to feel just like every other weekend. So, yeah, I'm going to try to just stick to my normal stuff. It might be a little boring, but it's just kind of stick to what works.

Well, it's a lot more work. I know that for sure. And it definitely, every time I always got to the championship race, it was like, oh, my God, thank God. I'm finally, finally relieved. And, you know, I think when you go into last week as far as knowing that you had to win, not in that limbo zone, I guess, like Larson was, to where you don't really need to win, you need to beat one card, be nice to win to lock yourself in.

Do you approach the championship weekend kind of that same way as, hey, I know I have one goal and that's to go there and try to win the race because you most likely that's what you're going to have to do? do you feel that same way that not having to balance points and thinking that you might have to win, just having one goal is easier? Yeah, I think it is. I think it's kind of, it's do or die, and I feel like it gives you a finality to the weekend. And yeah, I mean, this is the last, just like last weekend felt, you know, I felt like if Sunday didn't work out, it was pretty much our season is over, right?

and it's the same way this weekend. So the finality of that moment is nice. It's freeing because you know on the other side, good or bad, it's all that work is going to come to an end. And you just have to put your best foot forward this week and do everything you can do because it's, yeah, that's how I felt going into Martinsville. It's like if we're not good enough to win this weekend,

then it's all going to be over. So you just have to approach it with that finality. All right, last question. Was that the best burnout that you've ever done? It was long. I was just excited. And then they told me I was in the wrong spot. They told me I was in the wrong spot. So I was like, okay, I got to move for the stage or whatever. But yeah, it's just a lot of excitement.

I mean, honestly, you know, when you have a race like that, you have a lot of time to think. And you're just, you know, I wasn't maybe right after the race. I was just thinking about the execution of the race. And so I wasn't at first as excited. but then, you know, as soon as I got out of the car and heard the fans, I was, I was pumped. So it, yeah, it's just trying to do your job inside the car. And when they waved the checkered, it was like, okay, all right, now we can breathe a little bit. Well, it was pretty fun to watch.

You guys had just a dominant performance. And then I wish you nothing but the best of luck as you go to Phoenix. I know you got a lot on your plate, and I appreciate you taking the time today to tell us a little bit about your weekend. Yeah, man. Thank you.