Following the conclusion of the New York race, all eyes now turn to the iconic Daytona track for a final showdown before the playoffs commence. The stakes are towering, as Daytona stands as the ultimate opportunity for winless drivers to secure a coveted playoff berth. Amidst the 13 drivers who have clinched wins this season, including the accomplished William Byron and the ever-dominant Denny Hamlin, the stage is set for an intense battle at the top. Byron, piloting the No. 24 Chevy, has asserted his dominance with an impressive 5 victories, positioning the HMS star prominently in the standings.

Recently, during a post-race press conference following the Watkins Glen event, Byron candidly acknowledged the simmering competition and rivalry with JGR‘s star driver while reflecting on his remarkable season.

Intriguing pre-playoff revelation unfolds as Daytona looms large

During the conference, Byron opened up about his remarkable performance throughout the season, having secured an impressive tally of five victories even before reaching the regular season cutoff at Daytona. Looking back, Byron recalled that if he had been asked at the start of the season about achieving such a feat, he would have found it truly awesome. He pointed out that despite the challenges posed by the new car last year, he and his team were confident in their capabilities.

Byron reminisced about their strong start, with the team achieving favorable results early on, including impressive performance during testing sessions. However, the trajectory of their car’s performance evolved, leading to some struggles in adapting during the summer. Fortunately, they managed to regain their stride by fall, showcasing noteworthy speed.

“We hit the ground running, and we had some good results early. Even back to testing, we were really fast in testing. Then it seemed like the car evolved, and we struggled to kind of adapt and evolve with it a little bit through the summer and in the fall we showed up with a lot of speed again.”

Reflecting on the past year’s playoffs, Byron highlighted their potential, with their performance standing shoulder to shoulder with Denny Hamlin’s #11 car. This subtle rivalry marked their journey throughout the Playoffs in terms of average finish and running position. As the current year unfolded, Byron highlighted the team’s seamless transition into a steady rhythm that significantly contributed to their impressive five wins.

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“I think in the fall last year saw a lot of potential. It was really us and the #11 throughout the Playoffs in terms of average finish and running position. I think the start of this year, started to roll really smooth, and then we just kind of got into a rhythm,” Byron added.

William Byron’s milestone sparks insightful commentary from Hamlin

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With an impressive track record already under his belt, Byron adds another accomplishment to his book by completing 2,000 laps led in his Cup Series career. Following this milestone, his fellow competitor Denny Hamlin shared his perspective. In a recent episode of his ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast, Hamlin offered his thoughts, saying, “One of the things that really didn’t get said enough is that William Byron’s team. That’s why they’re upfront so much. They hold serve like 90-something percent of the time… If they are fifth or sixth, they’re coming out on the front row…”

He further elaborated, “Track position is so important in our game, that they were just riding the coattails a lot of times of that pit crew and that just keeps putting them up front, more and more and more.” Hamlin contrasted his own experience, explaining, “Where on the flip side of it, I have the opposite problem where a pit stop or yellow flag comes out and I just hold my head. I’m like, f**k how many are we gonna lose. Like, it just it’s just part of it.”

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With both of them holding top positions in the standings, the competition remains fierce, and as Daytona approaches, it’s not just about the asphalt action, but also the behind-the-scenes drama and trackside thrill that amps up the NASCAR scene.