“Been Under the Radar” – William Byron Gets Well-Deserved Praise After Jeff Gordon-Esque Season From the Big Man Himself

2023 is shaping up to be the year of the No. 24, and William Byron is the man behind the wheel, ready to take the NASCAR world by storm. The “New Jeff Gordon” has been on a tear, leaving a trail of burnt rubber and victory lane confetti in his wake.

With six wins under his belt and an almost grasp on the regular season championship, Byron’s rise to stardom has been meteoric. The youngster’s undeniable talent and grit on the track have earned him praise from legends and experts alike. Even Rick Hendrick, the head honcho at Hendrick Motorsports, can’t stop singing his praises.

Rick Hendrick unveils the underdog story of 2023 hiding in Larson’s shadow

The track has been Byron’s canvas this year, and he’s painted a masterpiece of speed and skill. The buzz surrounding this young gun has even reached the upper echelons of the racing world, with the team boss joining the chorus of praise.

The No. 24 has been consistently mixing it up with the frontrunners all season, save for a few bouts of misfortune. With Byron at the wheel, the legacy of the No. 24 is in safe hands. Former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty couldn’t contain his excitement, likening Byron to the likes of Jeff Gordon and showering praise on the Hendrick Motorsports team.

Petty enthusiastically exclaimed, “I never thought we would see another season like this from a driver, really honest” He saw the potential for Byron to follow in the footsteps of Jeff Gordon, predicting, “He could have that Kevin Harvick, that Jeff Gordon type season where you have eight, nine, ten wins by the time we rolled through the playoffs. They’re that type of team. He and Rudy [crew chief] are that type of group where they can get hot, they can get cold, and we’ve seen them go cold through the summers the last couple of summers. But they can get hot.”

As we gear up for the championship showdown, the No. 24 is poised to etch its name into the annals of racing history as the team boss is beaming with pride, acknowledging the incredible journey of this young talent.

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Reflecting on Byron’s remarkable journey, the team owner marveled at the 25-year-old’s accomplishments, saying, “Everybody gives Kyle [Larson] a tremendous amount of credit as one of the best that ever sat in any kind of car. William’s kind of been under the radar for a guy that’s won six races and had a chance to win the regular season Championship. For him to accomplish what he has, he’s kind of been under the radar.”

Hendrick also highlighted the potential for future success, saying, “Nobody has talked about him a lot, but if you look at what he’s been able to do, it’s pretty impressive. And at his age, in the chemistry between him and Rudy [crew chief], I think there’ll be a lot of championships in their horizon.”

Martinsville puts William Byron through the grinder as Gordon sees his racing spirit in action

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Martinsville Speedway turned into the ultimate litmus test for Byron, who clawed his way into championship contention. Byron was sitting pretty with a 30-point cushion above the playoff cutline before the elimination showdown, and boy, was he grateful for that safety net!

But as the engines roared and the tires screeched, the HMS prodigy found himself finishing in 13th place, trailing behind the playoff contenders. Yet, his pre-race points stash proved to be his golden ticket to the top of the cutline after the checkered flag. Seeing his team snatch 2 championship berths, the 4x champ Jeff Gordon was all smiles.

In a post-race interview, the 52-year-old couldn’t hide his pride, drawing parallels between himself and the rising star, William Byron. “I mean, the 24 because of the fans, because of my connection, Hendrick Motorsports’ history, it’s always gonna be a special number,” Gordon mused. “To see them have the year that they’ve had. To now go race for a championship, it’s phenomenal and you know I can’t help but look at myself a little bit with William, young, up-and-coming driver that has a bright future ahead of him.”

It seems the torch is being passed, with Byron carrying the legacy of the #24 car and the admiration of Jeff Gordon himself. The big question now is, can he rise to the occasion at Phoenix and grab his first title behind the No. 24? Or will 2023 be another year in the shadows of the No. 24 legacy?

Read more: Kyle Petty Declares the New Jeff Gordon in Hendrick Motorsports’ Saddest Season in 4 Years