DAYTONA BEACH — As they stepped off the post-race press convention stage with smiles on their faces, patted on the again and murmured one thing to him.
Perhaps a “thanks.” Perhaps a wisecrack.
Both would’ve been legitimate.
is a — once more. He ripped off a second straight victory in NASCAR’s Tremendous Bowl, one which obtained the inexperienced flag a couple of minutes after 2 p.m. Sunday and didn’t see the checkers till after 9:30 p.m. at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
Most notably, broke a file — Gordon’s file — for the youngest multi-time Nice American Race champ. The present vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports claimed his second Harley J. Earl Trophy in 1999 at 27 years, six months and 10 days outdated.
Byron’s mark: 27 years, two months and 18 days.
“Nicely, I’ve an extended approach to go,” he mentioned. “What do I want, 93 wins or one thing (to tie Gordon’s profession whole)?”
“I hope he breaks all of them,” Gordon mentioned of his numbers. “I’m in full assist of that.”
Sunday wasn’t a passing of the torch by any means. Byron has been in Gordon’s outdated No. 24 Hendrick automobile since 2018. Eight seasons, counting this contemporary one, in case you can consider it.
However it’s a continuation.
You keep in mind what Gordon did for twenty-four years within the No. 24 Chevy. Three Daytona 500 victories, 4 Cup Sequence titles. And far, way more.
When he retired, Chase Elliott hopped into the driving force’s seat for 2 seasons and made the playoffs in every.
Byron earned the nod in 2018 when Elliott pivoted to his dad’s outdated No. 9.
He captured his first win in 2020 on the Daytona summer time race. Since then, he’s added 13 extra, together with Sunday.
“You guys have witnessed it and seen it,” Gordon mentioned. “We discuss on a regular basis about how rapidly he’s risen by means of the ranks and gained races and championships and continues to do it on the elite stage in Cup …
“William is only a nice man and cares rather a lot in regards to the sport and the staff, and so you want good issues for him. I used to be telling him, ‘You have to be residing proper as a result of the seas parted at present.’”
Certainly they did.
Byron started the second and last additional time lap in ninth. Heading into Flip 3, he had labored his method towards the highest 5 and regarded to dart to the surface as a last-ditch effort. As he did, a crash ignited on the entrance of the pack and picked up site visitors all through.
For Byron, it occurred completely, although. He slipped up the surface wall, avoiding the smoke and carnage and rolled proper into Victory Lane. The warning flag dropped simply after he crossed the stripe.
He’s the fifth back-to-back winner in race historical past and the primary since Denny Hamlin 5 years in the past.
“Clearly, it labored out in a lucky method for us, but it surely’s not all luck to win twice in a row,” Byron mentioned. “It’s a variety of teamwork.”
Talking of his staff.
Byron not solely topped Gordon’s multi-time winner age mark. He handed Hendrick its tenth Daytona 500 triumph. That’s essentially the most of any group. Final 12 months, Byron elevated Hendrick right into a tie with longtime record-owner Petty Enterprises.
“I’m simply pleased with him,” Gordon mentioned. “I do know the followers that I get to work together with, there was a time period the place they had been unhappy that I used to be not in (the No. 24 Hendrick machine), and I can see their pleasure now that that legacy continues on due to what William and the staff are doing.”
Make no mistake. Byron felt the stress of that legacy early on, he mentioned Sunday. He needed to regulate.
He has.
“Now it’s like, OK, we’re constructing our personal staff,” Byron mentioned. “We have now cool paint schemes. We have now superior sponsors. And it’s beginning to all come collectively, and we’re actually getting a persona to our staff.”
That persona contains successful on the World Heart of Racing.
Prefer it at all times has for the Hendrick 24.
