Byron has more wins than any other driver in the NASCAR Cup Series this year, but narrowly escaped elimination as his 30-point buffer evaporated during the race.
The Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver was mired in the midpack for most of the race and ended up finishing 13th, one lap down, but it proved was just enough as Byron advanced by just eight points over Denny Hamlin.
Byron will face Martinsville winner Ryan Blaney (Team Penske), his Hendrick team-mate Kyle Larson, as well as Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell in next week's title-decider at Phoenix Raceway.
"Obviously we were not very good," said Byron, who has six wins to his name this year. "Our worst race of the year.
"Honestly, probably with 50 to go I felt really, really bad. I just had to drive the hell out of it.
"The guys stuck with me, they kept motivating me through little bits and pieces, just kind of keeping my mind straight. I'm just really thankful for them.
"It was just, yeah, a slugfest. Everyone raced me there good at the end. We just had to hang on, had to dig a little bit deeper.
Source: Autosport