“Just Keeping My Fingers Crossed”- Ecstatic Jeff Gordon Flaunts Pride in William Byron Carrying His NASCAR Legacy

Published 03/24/2024, 11:15 PM EDT

Jeff Gordon initially harbored skepticism about William Byron when the young driver was set to take over the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro at Hendrick Motorsports. At that time, Byron was relatively unknown, and Gordon hadn’t seen him race extensively. However, during Byron’s championship-winning year in the Xfinity Series in 2017, Gordon witnessed the youngster’s impressive skills firsthand. Byron’s display of raw talent erased any doubts, and Gordon’s skepticism transformed into admiration and support for his successor.

Today, their bond extends beyond the racetrack, with Gordon mentoring William Byron as they both contribute to Hendrick Motorsports’ legacy. Wonder what he said when Byron set the COTA track on fire by clinching another Cup Series victory?

Byron’s “smooth” and “amazing” run at the COTA race

Jeff Gordon was interviewed by Defined Fate after the race. When asked about Byron’s performance, Gordon was all praise for the #24 driver running for his team. He further congratulated his entire team for displaying such performance over the last couple of years.

“Man, what a weekend for him. I mean, just now, you know, he’s so smooth and just never put a foot wrong all weekend. And that’s what it was going to take there at the end to be Bell. Because Bell obviously had the fresher tires and had a fast race car and was coming hard. You know, I just, I was just keeping my fingers crossed no cautions and no slips.” He added, “And William just, amazing job. I mean, the confidence that he and this team have, you know, you’ve been seeing it the last couple of years. But to see them, you know, really great. This season started off right in the Daytona 500, now this big win. Yeah, they’re on their way to another great season. And couldn’t be more thankful for the hard work those guys are putting in.”

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“Well, it’s our 40th year and we’re celebrating, you know, the history. But we want to celebrate the present the future too. And great runs like this are certainly you know, making us all really happy, really proud. But at the same time, I got to go over there and see the nine in the five. So that’s kind of the way it goes in this position. You know, you’re going to go console some and you’re going to go celebrate with others. So we’ll take them when we can get them,” continued Gordon.

Jeff Gordon Charts #24 Successor William Byron’s Potential to Lead the ‘Hendrick Motorsports Dynasty’

Jeff Gordon and William Byron have a bond of trust between themselves. While William continues to win race after race, Gordon has some bigger plans for him. He is quite sure that Byron will reach a certain level, surpassing the greats of HMS, including Gordon himself.

“Mentor” Jeff Gordon is certain of William Byron achieving superstardom status in the coming years

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When William Byron won the Daytona 500 this year, Gordon made an interesting comment. Gordon, who was unable to control his excitement, said, “He was already a superstar. He just went to another level of being a superstar. I wasn’t driving the car, but I feel like I was making every lap with him out there. It’s just crazy to watch these guys do what they do and do it so well. And to watch them from this side of it, it makes me so happy, so proud.”

Byron’s victory in the Daytona 500 indeed catapulted him to superstardom. As the white flag waved, he led the field, navigating through chaos and wrecks. What’s more nostalgic? He is achieving all these in his predecessor’s iconic No. 24 car for HMS.

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The connection between the duo extends beyond the racetrack, as they exchange knowledge, experiences, and a deep love for racing. Byron’s rapid ascent and Gordon’s steadfast encouragement beautifully illustrate the essence of mentorship in the motorsports realm.

HMS Legend Claims Jeff Gordon Doesn’t Have the Bragging Rights for #24 Anymore

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Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.

Edited by:

Shivali Nathta