The #24 car holds a special place in the history of Hendrick Motorsports. While legendary driver Jeff Gordon made the car an iconic one, William Byron took charge of it in 2018. Without a doubt, Byron gave his career-best performance in the 2023 Cup Series. However, that wasn’t enough to lead the #24 to its first title since 2001, and the 26-year-old remains quite disappointed about it.

With Chase Elliott having the worst season of his career, Kyle Larson and William Byron took the onus to carry the Hendrick Motorsports torch in the 2023 campaign. While both drivers did a phenomenal job, it wasn’t enough to stop the underdog Ryan Blaney from winning the title.

William Byron regrets coming up short after a productive 2023 Cup Series campaign

It is no secret how Jeff Gordon made it big during his time as a Hendrick Motorsports driver. His stellar skills behind the wheel not only brought glory to the team but also made the #24 car a fan favorite. With his 93 wins and four championship wins, it was going to be very difficult to live up to the car’s reputation.

William Byron received the blessed opportunity to ride the #24 when he took charge at Hendrick Motorsports in 2018. Before him, even Chase Elliott struggled to succeed in the car as he failed to register a win in 72 races. However, Byron, being the fighter he is, kept working hard and eventually turned around his fortunes.

Having won his first race in the car in 2020, he made it big in the 2023 season. With six wins, 15 top-five finishes, and 21 top-ten finishes, Byron gave a performance to remember. It is worth noting that four of his six victories came in the first 19 races of the campaign.

While he did well in the NASCAR playoffs, Byron remained a favorite to win at Phoenix Raceway. Unfortunately, Ryan Blaney showed up in the Championship 4 and won the title. Byron finished third in the final standings as he struggled to get #24 its first championship after Gordon did in 2001. Interestingly, even Gordon registered six wins back then.

Having missed out on such a glorious opportunity, the Charlotte-born driver certainly regrets it. Speaking to the media at the 2023 NASCAR Awards about the recently concluded season, Byron said, “I think for us, I told Rudy [Fugle] I’m not satisfied with what we did. We kind of identify our great moments, our low moments this year and Phoenix was a low.”

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Despite regretting the missed chances, Byron remains hopeful for the 2024 season. He said, “So it stinks to come up short and you’re hungry. I feel like getting a taste of what we’re capable of this year, always being in the mix I feel like we can take it up a notch next year.

“There’s still more to go get so without mistakes, trying to maximize what we can do without costing ourselves chances. I feel like we’re very capable, so I’m excited. Hopefully, we go out and win 10 races, that would be fun.” While it would be great for him to win 10 races in a season, Byron continues to challenge himself as he participates in the Snowball Derby on Sunday.

William Byron cherishes the challenges that come with the Snowball Derby

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Historically, the Snowball Derby has attracted some of the biggest names in short-track racing. While the list includes many of the top NASCAR Cup Series drivers, this year wouldn’t be that different either. With Kyle Busch winning the race in 2009, there’s hope for any aspiring Cup Series driver.

With the same goal, William Byron will be participating in the race on Sunday as he relishes the challenges that come with it. Speaking to The Charlotte Observer, the Hendrick Motorsports driver described how he targets winning at the Five Flags Speedway. He said, “I love challenges, I love to be tested.” 

Byron continued, “I feel like this is a great chance to race against the best short-track drivers, and short-track racing is definitely a staple in our sport, and it’s something I want to be good and successful at. So when I look at the list of winners, that’s all you really need to know how prestigious this race is.

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“It’s one of the races where, no matter what discipline you’re from, any background — anyone can win it. It’s a real challenge. I enjoy the challenge of it more than anything.” These statements clearly define the right mentality Byron possesses. Hopefully, it will help him get better and make it count in the 2024 Cup Series campaign.