Not only did Ryan Blaney make back-to-back Championship Fours, but William Byron accomplished that feat as well. Another season saw Byron finish third in the final standings, the best Chevy of the 2024 season. After getting off to a hot start, Byron cooled down the stretch. With 38 Days to Daytona, what is in store for the Hendrick Motorsports #24 team?
The #24 Team
Driver: William Byron
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Sponsors: Axalta, Liberty University, Valvoline, Raptor, Z HP
2024 Statistics: 3 Wins, 13 Top-5s, 21 Top-10s, 1 Pole, 12.9 Average Finish
2025 Season Preview
Winless Streak
In terms of winless streaks, 28 is not too long. However, William Byron rattled off 3 wins in the first 8 races of the 2024 season. That was coming off a season where he won 6 times, 3 of which came during the second half of the year. The cold streak to end the season definitely put a damper on a solid overall year. Heading into 2025, the goal should be to reestablish the winning ways early.
No More Hide and Seek Momentum
After a hot start last year, William Byron fell victim to his summer slump once again. Despite not winning, the playoffs saw the return of positive momentum, with Byron averaging a 8.7 finish. Same as last year, a primary goal for Byron and the 24 team will be to avoid another sluggish summer. To take it a step further, the expectation should be to see the 24 car constantly battling for wins, as his #5 teammate does. Maybe the rejigged scheduled can lend Byron some momentum during his sluggish months.
Pecking Order at Hendrick
Is it officially time to place William Byron as the number 2 driver in the Hendrick Motorsports camp? Clearly, Kyle Larson remains atop. However, that second spot in the rotation has seemingly slipped away from Chase Elliott. Although Elliott had the best average finish last year, Byron has been winning races. Not only winning, but bringing home the important prizes. Last year, Byron won the Daytona 500 the 40th Anniversary Race for Hendrick Motorsports at Martinsville. For those who are unconvinced, another multi-win season from Byron while Elliott fails to do so should solidify that reality.
Daytona 500 Outlook
The reigning Daytona 500 champion will attempt to go back-to-back for the first time since Denny Hamlin. With how chaotic the Daytona 500 has become, the odds are not in his favor. Arguably, Byron was the first Daytona 500 winner since Hamlin to be a top driver. Even then, his win was tarnished a bit by the messy ending with the caution. Still, a Daytona 500 win is still a Daytona 500 win.
The key for William Byron is finishing on the lead lap. When Byron accomplishes that at Daytona, his average finish is 3.0 with 2 wins. Unfortunately, that is only 4 starts out his 14 at the track. On the flip side to his lead lad finishes, Byron has accumulated 8 DNFs. Essentially, Byron is boom or bust in Daytona races. After his Coke Zero Sugar 400 win in 2020, Byron went on a lengthy stretch of poor results. With that 500 win under his belt, he could have kicked off a similar stretch after finishing 27th in the summer.
Days to Daytona Countdown
40 Days: Team Penske #22; 39 Days – Team Penske #12
