Imago
Image Credits: Imago
Imago
Image Credits: Imago
In its illustrious 40-year history in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports has had some of the greatest race car drivers of all time. However, perhaps no one was as legendary as seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. It has been a while since the 48-year-old has retired from racing full-time in the competition, but team owner Rick Hendrick believes he has already found the man who will follow in Johnson’s footsteps. For those guessing, it is none other than William Byron.
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At 26, Byron is the youngest driver at HMS and perhaps the most prolific at the moment as well. He won the most races in the series last year and began 2024 by becoming a Daytona 500 victor. The driver of the #24 might not have started racing in the traditional way, but he certainly has mastered the art. Today, there are few motorsports athletes anywhere in the world that are as good as the 26-year-old.
Rick Hendrick reveals his youngest driver’s similarities with Jimmie Johnson
It’s no wonder that Rick Hendrick believes that William Byron has what it takes to become the next Jimmie Johnson. His record tells everything one needs to know. Will he become a seven-time world champion? Well, that is a bit hard to believe, but the 26-year-old certainly has the skills and determination to be as good as the Johnson, or at least that is what his boss believes.
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In a recent episode of the NASCAR LIVE podcast, the legendary team owner explained how the driver of the #24 car was like the seven-time Cup Series champion. One of the biggest similarities between the two, as per Hendrick, is their need for perfection. Johnson was proactive and influential in the HMS garage. When he spoke, people listened and he expected the best out of everyone. William Byron is the same and his on-track performance reflects it.
“When you look at an athlete that puts in the work, I remember Jimmie Johnson and I was amazed at how Jimmie Johnson worked out and he was the first guy that broke the corners down into eights, and says this, this, this, and this, and everybody copies him. Cause I’ve been listening on the radio for years. Jimmie was the guy who said, ‘Hey we need to get all the drivers together and debrief’. Now I could have said that and they wouldn’t have done it. But when Jimmie Johnson said we need a debrief, everyone jumped in. I see William coming along like Jimmie. He’s not going to be satisfied. He’s not going to feel like he arrived and give up what got him here, the studying of the tapes, getting behind the simulator, breaking down the car. He’s just gonna get better,” Rick Hendrick shared.
One of the things that makes Rick Hendrick a great boss and team owner is his personal touch when it comes to his employees. William Byron got a taste of that sometime back when Mr. H welcomed him into his house for pizza and a game of football.
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When Mr. H had a heartwarming moment with his rising star
Hendrick revealed that his wife was out of town and so, he decided to connect with his youngest Cup Series driver. The two had a fun time watching a playoff game in the NFL and gobbling down pizza. It felt like a heartwarming moment between the driver and owner as the 74-year-old’s voice had a tone of fondness as he spoke about it and said that the 26-year-old would become a great champion one day.
“I called William out of the blue the other night and said, ‘What are you doing? There’s a playoff game in the NFL. You wanna come, eat pizza? My wife’s out of town, come on over’. So we had a good time. We talked about a lot of things and watched the ball game. He’s just special. He has the respect of everybody on the track and you couldn’t ask for a better role model and he will grow into that. He’s gonna get comfortable there. All the wins last year, the biggest disappointment was when he didn’t win the championship, but that’s a hard one to do. But he’s come along and he’s going to be a great champion,” the HMS boss said.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 14, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) and Rick Hendrick (left) walk on pit row during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
There is no doubt that William Byron is one of the most loved members of the Hendrick Motorsports family. He is a man who doesn’t talk much, keeps his head down, and gets the job done more often than not. Will he become the Cup Series champion in 2024? Let us know your thoughts.
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