As the curtain falls on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, we wrap up another thrilling season. Hendrick Motorsports, tantalizingly close to clinching its 15th championship in the premier series, saw its hopes just slip away as Kyle Larson and William Byron secured second and third places in the final standings.

So, what was the hiccup in their race to the top? To shed light on this, the crew chiefs for Kyle Larson and William Byron recently took to Sirius XM Radio. They delved into the various factors that influenced their drivers’ near-miss in clinching the coveted title.

The crew chief of Kyle Larson reflects on challenges in the championship race

The bond between Kyle Larson and his crew chief, Clifton Oliver Daniels, extends far beyond the racetrack. In a testament to their camaraderie, Daniels often takes charge of cleaning up after Larson’s family dinners, showcasing his knack for maintaining not just cars but friendships too. On the other hand, on the track, Daniels, at the helm of Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, is known for his meticulous attention to detail, exceptional leadership, and intense dedication. These qualities propelled Larson toward his second NASCAR Cup Series championship bid in three years at Phoenix Raceway.

Yet, despite their best efforts, the championship dream eluded them. As per hendrickmotorsports.com, Daniels pointed out, “It certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort from the team and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. A lot of prep went into the weekend. […] Our team executed the day really well with adjustments that we made to our car throughout the race, our pit crew on pit road did just a phenomenal job of really keeping us in the hunt—getting us off of pit road with the lead of the Championship 4 cars (on lap 278). Our car just wasn’t good enough to give Kyle (Larson) what he needed to keep the spot that we had.”

Watch This Story: Larson vs Blaney – The unexpected showdown 

The #5 driver and co. are now taking time to reflect on the race, pinpointing areas for improvement for the entire team. While Larson’s crew chief pointed to the car’s performance, William Byron’s crew chief attributed their challenges to team dynamics and judgment calls as their downfall.

Rudy Fugle acknowledges mistimed car adjustments in the championship race

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In the heat of the championship race at Phoenix, William Byron kicked off impressively, snagging the first-stage win. Yet, as the race progressed, a dramatic shift unfolded. Byron found himself in a fierce tussle with championship-four rival Ryan Blaney. In a nail-biting showdown, the Team Penske driver ultimately clinched the win.

Addressing the pivotal issues that contributed to Byron’s third-place finish, Fugle reflected, “Somewhere around lap 150, the track took enough shade in (turns) three and four and took enough rubber in the center of the corners that now the center being tight was our biggest problem. From there on out, we were one adjustment behind. We were making the correct adjustments from there on out the rest of the race, but we should have loosened up when we tightened up. We were just one step behind our competitors on where we needed to be and couldn’t get caught back up.”

Despite not securing the championship, both teams celebrated remarkable seasons. Under Fugle’s guidance, Byron experienced his most successful season in his six full-time years in the Cup Series. He topped the charts with six victories, nine stage wins, 21 top-10 finishes, and tied with Larson for the most top-fives, totaling 15.

Read More: “It’s a Bummer” – Kyle Larson Loses Out on a Very Precious Track for His Series, and He Isn’t Happy at All

Meanwhile, the No. 5 team dazzled on the track, securing the second-highest number of points four wins this season, and triumphing in the All-Star Race during NASCAR’s momentous comeback at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Impressively, two of these point-paying victories were clinched during the high-stakes playoffs. Larson etched his name in the Next Gen era’s history as the first driver to lead over 1,000 laps, masterfully commanding the lead for 1,127 laps.