Think NASCAR is all about ‘Talladega Nights’ cliches? Well, think twice, because William Byron has a message for you! The Athletic is up with another racer this time. William Byron, the No. 24 driver of team HMS and the Daytona 500 champ of this season is on the most anticipated ’12 Questions’ Podcast with Jeff Gluck. And he’s there to unveil the real deal. 

With the Bristol madness fever settling down, Jeff Gluck, with his 12 questions, interviewed William Byron for his 165th episode. Byron appeared excited and confident in answering all of Jeff’s inquiries. However, in response to the fourth question, he established a distinction between core and casual supporters of the sport. While limiting the latter with connections to the film Talladega Nights.

As per William Byron, it’s more than Talladega Nights

During his chat on the 12 Questions Podcast with Jeff Gluck, William Byron got real about NASCAR. He delved into the intricacies of NASCAR, shedding light on a perception gap between core and casual fans. When asked about his opinion on the sport that is not shared by the fans, Byron contrasted the surface-level understanding with the depth of engineering mastery behind the scenes.

He said, “The sport is way more sophisticated than what it maybe seems to casual fans.” Byron shared how the hardcore fans get it, but sometimes the casual ones just don’t catch on. He even brought up “Talladega Nights” and how it kinda misses the mark on showing the true depth of the sport. Byron highlighted, “I would say our core fans know that to some degree. But the casual fan, with the “Talladega Nights” references — which a lot of them are true for that racetrack, but in general, our sport is very sophisticated with lots of engineering.”

Adding to his answer, the HMS driver stated, “That (engineering) is what separates the good from great, but it just maybe isn’t shown as much because the teams are very careful to show it. But there’s a lot of intelligence inside the garage.”

He further answered some questions that go beyond both the technical surface and depth, as he delved into relationships with others and oneself in the NASCAR world, offering a holistic view of the sport. 

Beyond the checkered flag: Byron’s tales

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On a lighter note, Byron humorously addressed the question about the driver he’d least like to be stuck with on an elevator in the podcast. He stated, “I feel like I’m pretty friendly with everyone,” hinting at the importance of maintaining good relations in the racing community. He then went on to answer the question with the name of a driver he doesn’t know much about- Shane van Gisbergen-as that might lead to awkwardness. However, he confessed a desire to get to know SVG better, adding a touch of suspense for possible future encounters.

He also opened up about some moments that never made it to the media. Reflecting on his past, Byron reminisced about his clashes with Zane Smith during their Legend Cars days. He shared, “Way back, me and Zane Smith would get into it a lot in Legend Cars.” A rivalry that’s now turned into friendship.

Further delving into the intricacies of confidence in racing, Byron revealed that it’s not always as straightforward as it seems. “Sometimes, I probably come across more confident than I actually am”. Thus, underlining the importance of internal self-awareness in developing a racer’s mindset.

Byron’s candid anecdotes offer a fresh perspective. As fans eagerly absorb Byron’s behind-the-scenes revelations, they gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of NASCAR beyond racing on the track.

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