If 2023 was a breakthrough year for William Byron, 2024 could prove to be even bigger.
Byron, who led all NASCAR Cup Series drivers with six wins last season, scored the biggest triumph of his career Monday evening, winning the 66th annual Daytona 500 to kick off the 2024 season.
Byron took the white flag at Daytona International Speedway in his No. 24 Chevrolet seconds before a caution flag flew because of a last-lap crash. The 26-year-old edged his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman for the checkered flag, NASCAR officials ruled, after reviewing the sequence of events.
“Just extremely blessed and thankful for all the opportunities, now just want to keep it going,” Byron said after exiting his car. “We have a lot to prove this year, and this is a good start obviously. Daytona 500, it’s freaking awesome!”
The one-two finish made a memorable day even more special for team owner Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman, Jeff Gordon, who famously drove the No. 24 Hendrick Chevrolet to three Daytona 500 wins and four NASCAR Cup Series championships.
Monday marked the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports’ first race, and Byron’s win gave the team owner a record-tying nine Daytona 500 victories. Byron became the sixth different driver to win the Daytona 500 for Hendrick Motorsports and the first in nine years.
Monday’s win marked Byron’s 11th Cup Series victory since 2018. The Charlotte, North Carolina native made it to the NASCAR championship race in 2023,…
