“Not Shade. Just How I See It”- William Byron Bluntly Shuts Down Critic After Veiled Dig at NASCAR

Hendrick Motorsports sensation William Byron might as well be the most fortunate and unfortunate driver this season. The 25-year-old had a breakout season in 2023, claiming 6 wins as he advanced into the final 4 for the very first time in his career. Byron and his #24 Chevy had it all—consistency, speed, and pace—except luck.

Despite being the fastest in qualifying and winning stage 1 of the championship decider in Phoenix, Byron lost his momentum, going back as if he were being pulled from behind. After being the fastest driver in qualifying, the HMS driver ended up being the last of the remaining three championship contenders, with Christopher Bell going out early in the race.

The scene was quite similar at the recent late-model race at Smyrna Speedway. With the driver losing it to a fellow contender, a critic got the idea of rubbing some salt in his wounds, and surprisingly, the quiet and reserved Byron gave one straight back to him, shutting him big time as he delivered a knockout blow.

William Byron throws one back at a critic for trying to spark a new controversy

Rick Hendrick’s pride, William Byron, is often known for his calm demeanor and quiet attitude, but the driver doesn’t hold back when it comes down to racing. His consistent performances and his ability to generate speed made the #24 HMS driver a solid championship threat—someone who could even rival his more experienced teammate, Kyle Larson.

2023 was the driver’s breakout season, and his performances caught the attention of the community. The way he raced his fellow drivers and won races exemplified his skill and character as a driver, which extended the #24’s legacy, something even the great Jeff Gordon was proud to highlight. And just like that, Byron became a massive favorite to win the 2023 title.

Unfortunately for the former KBM driver, fate had other plans. Byron met his match in the final race, losing it to his teammate while Ryan Blaney took the throne, becoming the 2023 Cup Series champion. Now coming to the present way of things, the scene was quite similar in the Florida Governor’s Cup at the half-mile short track; despite starting out strong, Byron yet again fell back in the end, losing it all in the closing laps.

With the NASCAR national series in the rearview mirror, Byron was all set to try his luck in late-model racing. The 200-lap short format action even delivered the hype it promised, giving the community an intense one-on-one between Byron and Stephen Nasse in the closing laps. However, Byron lost the duel in the end as the #24 car yet again lost its edge owing to the wear and tear from the battle.

WATCH THIS STORY: William Byron’s crew chief acknowledged Ryan Blaney’s strong practice performance

This prompted a so-called critic to call out the driver when he put out a tweet that read, “You have battles like this on short tracks when tires/brakes etc give up. Mechanical parts of the car aren’t so good that you have to manage and can find something more to go get at the end. Fun battle.”

Instead of appreciating the driver, the detractor tried to stir up controversy, pitting the driver against the organization, to which Byron gave a befitting reply, one that eventually silenced him. In his post, Byron wrote, “Not shade. Just how I see thru my experience.”

Nasse perfects the act of fending off as Byron loses it in the final laps

William Byron, RCR‘s newfound talent, Jesse Love, Gio Ruggiero, and local legend Brad May were the main attractions in Sunday’s 200-lap short-track racing extravaganza. With the event racing the NASCAR driver, fans were thrilled to see how the Cup Series talent would fare against local talents in their backyard.

To give him credit, Byron put on an excellent show, going bumper to bumper in the final laps until his car gave out on him. With under 10 laps to go, the race reached its crescendo as Stephen Nasse and the #24 driver got on with it, going back and forth with Byron trying to swerve past Nasse, who was at that point at the front.

READ MORE: William Byron Fails to Enthrall at Florida With Phoenix Misery Repeat

Even though Byron made it past the ARCA part-timer, the 28-year-old got right back at him, taking the lead away from him, outmaneuvering the HMS star to snatch off the win, and finally resting the case in his 13th attempt.