Rudy Fugle Willing to Take Risk With #24’s Efficiency to Get Extra “5%” From William Byron at Phoenix

With a comfortable +30 points margin heading into Martinsville, it seemed like a smooth sail to the championship race for HMS star William Byron. However, the “slugfest” that unfolded in Virginia was anything but that, as Byron himself described it.

Despite a valiant effort, Byron’s chances hung by a thread, relying on the misfortunes of the JGR duo, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. Ultimately, he salvaged a 13th-place finish, but it wasn’t just mounting pressure that troubled Byron; it was also the searing heat inside his cockpit.

Rookie in the Championship 4: Can William Byron will his way to NASCAR glory?

Post-race, the revelation came that the No. 24’s helmet fans malfunctioned during the race, causing Byron’s discomfort. He recounted, “My helmet fan wouldn’t work, my face is bright red. My cool shirt, all that stuff was great, but when your head is just blowing like a hair dryer, it’s really tough. With 50, 60 to go, man, it was so blurry in the car. I was going to faint before I was going to get out of the race.”

Byron’s health was a significant concern, and on Monday, he required an IV to recover from the ordeal. The team swiftly took action, deciding to move the fans higher in the car, hoping for cooler airflow. Crew chief Rudy Fugle stressed, “His health is number one. If he is 5% more in the tank at the end of the race, it will pay more.”

However, the upcoming race is no ordinary event; it’s the championship race at Phoenix. But, Byron remains optimistic, stating it won’t impact performance, as the fans are in the same location as in the No. 5 car.

With a remarkable six wins to his name, the pressure to secure his first Cup series title is mounting. With a season full of ups and downs for the Hendrick camp, Byron believes the hardest part may already be behind.

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Is the No. 24 ready to relive the ‘Refuse to Lose’ era?

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Pre-race at Phoenix Media Day, Byron candidly admitted to the nerves that had gripped him and his team during their quest for the title.

“We were (nervous), no doubt,” Byron admitted. “We put together such a good year. To make it all the way to Martinsville and feel like your chances are slipping away was definitely kind of demoralizing, depressing.”

It’s in this disappointment that the source of the pressure stems, from the knowledge that they were so close to their goal.

“If we hadn’t made it, I think it would have been a lot of disappointment. I think that’s where the pressure came from. For us to win a championship would be just icing on the cake,“ Byron added. “You got a 1 in 4 chance.”

As the championship showdown approaches, Byron takes comfort in the knowledge that, win or lose, his team has achieved a major milestone. If he can secure the title on Sunday, he’ll become the first driver to win a championship in the iconic No. 24 since Jeff Gordon achieved the feat 22 years ago in 2001.

“Now, we have a new life for our team,” Byron explained. “This is what our goal was, to make the Championship 4. I think any team would say that. Now, we feel like, I mean, we have nothing to lose.”

The 25-year-old is set to make his maiden entry into the Championship 4 this year; can he claim the championship too? With the heat fan changes, Crew Chief Fugle also shared, “Definitely worth the try.” But the question lingers – is ‘trying’ something you want to do just before the championship race, where the stakes are at an all-time high?

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