Although the driver crosses the finish line, they cannot do it alone in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Many moving parts contribute to a win, and when the driver hits the track, their crew plays a huge role in how the race plays out.
So it makes sense that teams and drivers put just as much emphasis on choosing the right crew and building strong chemistry.
In Kevin Harvick’s “Happy Hour,” the former driver talked about a wild moment involving William Byron’s crew during the recent race at Kansas. The incident is a perfect example of how desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures in NASCAR.
Kevin Harvick Dives Into Kyle Larson’s Power Run, William Byron’s Pit Lane Chaos
Talking about the AdventHealth 400, Harvick and his crew were thoroughly impressed by Kyle Larson’s run at Kansas and praised his trademark dominance.
Harvick pointed out the only time Larson looked vulnerable in the race. He said, “He was only really challenged one time by Chase Elliott, and then Elliott wound up having his trouble on the pit road. They had like a 17-second pit stop that put him back.”
Co-host Mamba Smith added that he — and many others — believe Larson is currently the best driver on the planet. He even compared him to a NASCAR legend.
“He’s the only guy that we’ve really seen have dominating performances in the last few years. Like old-school, the way Jimmie Johnson used to do it.”
After breaking down other key moments from the race, the conversation turned to William Byron’s emergency pit stop.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver was forced to pit after a flat tire. But what really caught everyone’s attention was how his No. 24 crew handled it.
On Lap 76, crew member Ryan Patton couldn’t find his gloves when Byron pulled into the pit lane. With no time to waste, he changed the tire without them.
Smith was especially impressed and said, “Ryan Patton does a pit stop with no gloves on. That is the most gangster thing that you might see all year. Like to have the wherewithal to be like, ‘You know what, screw it. My guys need it, and we’ve got to get it done right now to keep this thing in.’”
After finishing the job, Patton talked about the moment on camera.
“It’s not an ideal situation, obviously, because there’s a lot of communication going on,” he said. “It’s a crisis situation, but I hope we can catch a lucky dog and get back in this thing.”
He even showed the camera his hands, full of blisters from the job.
Harvick gave his take:
“He wound up with some blisters on his hands, and then he wound up with his hands in the ice chest, but it was definitely a ‘do or die’ moment. And he made it happen, he definitely made it happen. He’s been in the game a long time and has been a part of a lot of race wins.”