The motive force of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is making his second consecutive look within the Championship 4 — however he’d reasonably not repeat his 2023 efficiency.
Final 12 months, William Byron earned pole place for the title-decider however fell behind rivals Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney because the race progressed.
His entry into this 12 months’s finale could be very completely different from the opposite three drivers, partly as a result of he earned his manner in on factors — partly as a result of he hasn’t received since April.
Certainly, for 27 minutes after the earlier race in Martinsville, he was really out of the Championship 4.
Then, Byron stood stoically on pit highway, ready for a ruling to come back down from NASCAR. Finally, they deemed Christopher Bell’s unintended wall-ride an unlawful security violation, paving the way in which for Byron’s re-entry into the ultimate 4.
“It was excruciating,” mentioned Byron of the wait. “I felt prefer it was so lengthy. I used to be truthfully numb to no matter was going to occur. I used to be truthfully simply making ready for not being in, then excited about I felt like we did all we might do. It’s what it’s at this level. It was a whole lot of ready. I felt just like the longer I waited, in some methods, that it wasn’t going to work out. However yeah, it did.”
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Liberty College Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Onward to Phoenix
When it was introduced that he would have a shot on the championship, the celebrations had been muted and Byron appeared subdued. That does not imply he’ll let the curious journey to Phoenix impression how he approaches this vital race on Sunday.
“I have never ever felt as bonded to my group as I’m now,” mentioned Byron. “We had a gathering on Sunday evening about it. I really feel like we have turned the web page actually, actually shortly. For me personally, I’ve blocked out a ton of the noise. I have never checked out social media. I do not actually care. I am simply targeted on attempting to get the 24 automotive as quick as I can.
“I feel previous experiences have most likely helped gas that the place I have been by way of sufficient BS in my Cup profession the place I sort of know what to concentrate on and what to dam out.”
“No remark” on Martinsville penalties
Regardless of his choice to disregard it, the off-track noise hasn’t quieted down. On Tuesday, NASCAR penalized three groups for alleged race manipulation together with the 2 Chevrolet drivers that rode side-by-side behind Byron within the closing laps. This week, an enchantment by Trackhouse was rejected, with the panel saying it needed to be carried out to “defend the integrity of the game.”
Byron, the one driver associated to all the controversy that wasn’t instantly implicated not directly, had little to say about what occurred or the penalties that adopted.
#24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Liberty College Chevrolet Camaro, #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Bass Professional Outlets Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: John Ok Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photos
“I used to be simply targeted on what I might do,” mentioned Byron when requested about Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon’s actions within the closing laps. “I used to be driving as laborious as I might. I used to be attempting to dam, simply drive as laborious as I might. I do not actually know. I wasn’t of their automobiles. However yeah, that was my objective, was simply attempting to do this.”
He was additionally requested if he agreed with the penalties however once more, it wasn’t a topic Byron was eager to speak about.
“I imply, I’ve no remark. I am simply targeted on the 24. Yeah, I imply, I simply need to do an awesome job for my group. I really feel truthfully like on Sunday evening, it is a enormous alternative for us to exit right here and win this championship. That is all I am targeted on.”
A targeted Byron will definitely have a whole lot of strain on him this weekend as the one driver for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet within the finale. He can even be piloting the enduring No. 24, which hasn’t received a Cup title since Jeff Gordon (who now serves as HMS’ vice chairman) did it in 2001.
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