DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron’s victory in the 66th Daytona 500 on Monday night was all in the numbers.
The 24 car won the 2024 Daytona 500 on the exact day that 40 years ago Hendrick Motorsports competed in its first NASCAR Cup Series race – the 1984 Daytona 500.
It was also a record-tying ninth Daytona 500 victory for team owner Rick Hendrick, tying him with Petty Enterprises for the most Daytona 500 wins.
But it was also the first Daytona 500 victory for Hendrick Motorsports in 10 years.
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The last Hendrick victory came in the Daytona 500 was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in 2014. Jimmie Johnson won for Hendrick in 2013.
But after that, the most successful team in NASCAR history had gone winless in the biggest race on the schedule.
“It’s been a drought winning this race, we’ve led a lot of laps and I just refuse to get excited,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “When I think back 40 years coming here and feeling like I didn’t belong with Junior Johnson and the Petty’s and the Wood Brothers, and we only had five people on that team.
“That was 40 years ago, but it’s been 10 years since we have won here. I think it is going to sink in next week, more. I’m in awe of how hard it is to win this race.”
“When you look at his work ethic and with Rudy Fugle (crew chief) sitting next to me, they are a lethal combination. Bringing Rudy on brings him that confidence.
“When you think about his age and how smart he is, he doesn’t make many mistakes. He eats and sleeps and drinks winning. He puts in the work. I’ve never seen anyone more dedicated than William Byron.”
On the 40th Anniversary to the day of Hendrick Motorsports first NASCAR Cup Series race, William Byron of Charlotte, North Carolina gave team owner Rick Hendrick a great anniversary present:
A victory in the 66th Daytona 500 on Monday night.
“I’m telling you; you couldn’t write the script any better,” Hendrick said. “When we thought about coming down here the first time, we didn’t think we should be here, felt so out of place.
“We win this on our 40th to the day, it’s just — and timed a record now, so that’s awesome.”
Byron led a 1-2 Hendrick Motorsports Daytona 500 sweep with teammate Alex Bowman second, both in Chevrolets.
It was a record sixth different driver to win the Daytona 500 for Hendrick Motorsports.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Byron said. “It’s just a blur.
“It’s special. Very special. This was like a Chess game. You had to wait to make your move. We had to execute in the car. A lot of the race was saving fuel. It was an interesting race for that reason.”
It was Byron’s 11th career NASCAR Cup Series victory. He won a series high six races in 2023.
Bowman finished second by just 0.0006-of-a second.
“I was pretty sure William had us and we had a run, but I’m so proud of everybody at Hendrick Motorsports,” Bowman said. “To get a Hendrick Motorsports car in victory lane, I wish it had been the 48 (Bowman’s) but I’m glad it’s one of ours’.
“It’s second place in the Daytona 500. A great 1-2 for the team. I wish it were us, but I’m proud of the whole team.”
The race was scored official because of the timing of the yellow flag. Both Byron and Bowman had already crossed the line before the yellow flag waved.
Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing was third in a Toyota. Corey LaJoie was fourth in a Chevrolet and Bubba Wallace was fifth in the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing.
The Final Restart
The green flag waved with four laps to go in the scheduled 200-lap distances with Chastain taking the high line and Byron the low lane.
Chastain was able to pull ahead slightly down the backstretch before the low lane led by Byron had the advantage out of Turn 4. He was scored the leader on lap 197.
Chastain got shuffled back before pulling back to near even on the inside before 2022 Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford Mustang ran into the back of Chastain’s Chevrolet, sending it into a crash just as the white flag waved.
It was official.
Ironically, Byron played a major role in triggering a crash earlier that took out many of the leading contenders.
The Big One
It was the “Big One” on lap 192.
It was triggered when Brad Keselowski was turned by Byron at the head of the field on the backstretch involving many of the leading contenders including Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, and many others.
Byron got through the carnage and at the time of the Red Flag, Chastain was the leader ahead of Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman.
NASCAR issued the Red Flag and stopped the remainder of the field on the backstretch.
There were 18 cars involved in the crash.
Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon defended the fact the winner that Byron played a major role in the big crash on Lap 192 that went a long way to determine his victory.
“It was time to go,” Gordon said. “When you get past that final pit stop, you are going to make every decision that you can from your spotter, and you are instinctive.
“It was great to see Alex (Bowman) pushing William. To me, that’s just a product of this type of racing.”
One of the first drivers that came to victory lane to congratulate Byron was former Hendrick Motorsports driver, two-time Daytona 500 winner and six-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson. He is now an owner/part-time driver of The Legacy Motor Club and competed in Monday night’s Daytona 500 in the No. 84 Carvana Toyota.
Johnson finished 28th.
Johnson recalls when Byron was a youngster, he used to “Trick or Treat” on Halloween at Johnson’s house.
Monday night, Johnson congratulated the 26-year-old version of Byron as the latest Daytona 500 winner.
“Fortieth Anniversary to the day on Monday, what a way to celebrate,” Byron said afterwards. “Daytona 500 – this is fricking awesome. Let’s go.
“I’m thankful for great power under the hood from Chevrolet. I’m just a kid racing on computers who great up to do this.
“This is so fricking cool.
“I’m just very, very blessed.”
On lap 190, it was Chastain and Logano side-by-side with 30 drivers on the lead lap.
That was before two big moves by Byron, including his role in the “Big One” and his fantastic last lap that determined the outcome of the race and gave team Hendrick Motorsports its first Daytona 500 win since Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in 2014.
Byron’s father went back to Charlotte, North Carolina because he was feeling sick. Although his father wasn’t in attendance, the two were able to share the victory from afar afterwards.
“I never thought we would win; I never thought that far ahead,” Byron said. “I texted my dad and told him we would celebrate when we got home. It was great to have my mom here and celebrate with here. It will be great to see my dad and go to Eddie’s Place in Charlotte and have breakfast.
“That’s our tradition.”
There was a time when Byron had plenty of self-doubts entering the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. His career path began in Sim Racing, not karting or other traditional entries to the sport.
But given the chance, he was able to earn his way to Hendrick Motorsports.
“I never grew up envisioning I would drive the No. 24 car,” Byron said. “It’s cool that it was Jeff Gordon’s number.
“Now, it’s us.”
In order to get to this position, he had to overcome the mental barrier that existed in the back of his mind.
“There was a lot of doubt that crept in, and I wondered if I belonged in this sport,” Byron reflected afterward. “I had to grow a thicker skin to learn what it took in the NASCAR Cup Series. It took about three years for me to develop that.
“I owe a lot of that in Chad Knaus. He instilled that in me.
“I thought this might be my only shot to win this race. I thought that motivated me that this might be the only time I have this chance.
“I might never win the race every again so I’m going to cherish this moment forever.”