What happens when one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers mentors a rising star? Does the legend shape the protégé, or does the young talent carve his path? For William Byron and Jeff Gordon, the answer is a bit of both. Since the beginning, Byron fought to earn his spot at Hendrick Motorsports. And Gordon made sure of that. Rather than rolling out the red carpet when Byron took over the iconic No. 24, the four-time Cup Series champion delivered a harsh reality check. Cup racing wasn’t the Truck Series and raw talent alone wouldn’t be enough. Instead, Byron had to sharpen his racecraft, develop mental toughness, and prove he belonged among NASCAR’s elite.

At first, Gordon’s mentorship was anything but easy. Instead of gentle guidance, Byron faced relentless pressure, brutally honest feedback, and sky-high expectations. However, rather than buckling under the weight, he adapted. He learned. He won. And as he grew, so did his dynamic with Gordon. Over time, the tough mentor transformed into a trusted ally. The driver who once had everything to prove has evolved into a true championship contender. Today, Byron isn’t just following in Gordon’s footsteps—he’s blazing his trail. And the man who once pushed him the hardest? He’s now one of his strongest supporters.

But how did this transformation happen? What pivotal moments defined their journey from teacher and student to partners in success? More importantly, how did Gordon’s tough love shape the champion Byron has become? Let’s take a deep dive into a relationship built on high expectations, hard lessons, and, ultimately, victory lane celebrations.

Forged Under Pressure: Beyond the Track, Paving the Road to Victory

William Byron is not your ordinary NASCAR driver, he is one of the few special talents who started off with iRacing and has grown to become a top contender. With streaks of wins at KBM in the Truck Series, followed by a good year at JRM, he was all set for the big stage. Little did he know that he would be stepping into the big shoes of piloting the iconic No. 24 HMS Chevy. It took him two whole seasons to get his first win in the Cup Series back in 2020, and Jeff Gordon already gave him a reality check before he signed up for this role.

“He’s awesome, I think he’s a good mentor for me. He was really tough on me when I started at Hendrik. Actually when I interviewed with him the first time I’d won four truck races and he was like ‘This isn’t the truck series buddy, you’re gonna have to figure this out. The cup is really hard.’ So he was tough on me getting going, and then I think our relationship has grown over the years a lot, just spending time off the track too.” Byron opened up on the Rubbin is Racing podcast. And this tough love certainly did the trick for the driver of the #24 car.

Byron has been steadily breaking records, often surpassing those previously held by Jeff Gordon. For instance, Byron’s 2024 Daytona 500 victory made him the first driver since Gordon to win back-to-back Daytona 500s in the No. 24 car. Additionally, Byron has contributed to Hendrick Motorsports’ historic achievements, such as securing their 300th win and becoming the winningest team in Daytona 500 history. Jeff Gordon’s 93 Cup Series wins and four championships cement his place as one of NASCAR’s all-time greats. Meanwhile, William Byron, with a growing list of victories and a career still unfolding, faces a daunting yet thrilling challenge—chasing down a legend and etching his name into the record books.

Byron has become a top driver, but Hendrick struggled with momentum in 2024 despite strong runs from Larson and Elliott. Vice chairman Jeff Gordon stresses the need for resilience and consistency. By 2023, Byron had established himself as a legitimate title contender, winning six races and making the Championship 4. His ability to compete at the front consistently was a testament to the tough guidance he had received from Gordon. The relationship between the two had also evolved—what started as a mentor-student dynamic had transformed into a mutual respect between a rising star and a seasoned legend.

After Byron’s historic back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 2024 and 2025, Gordon was one of the first to praise him, saying, “I hope he breaks everything,” expressing his desire for Byron to continue setting new milestones. This statement reinforces the mutual respect and admiration between the two. Gordon sees Byron’s success as a continuation of the No. 24 legacy, which he built during his own career. Their relationship has also grown outside of racing. Gordon actively mentors Byron, shaping his skills and racecraft. Their bond has grown from mentorship to mutual respect and teamwork.

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William Byron and the #24 team eyeing for more history at the Daytona 500

Apart from Byron, only four other drivers have clinched back-to-back wins at the Daytona 500. The illustrious list includes the likes of Richard Petty, Carl Yarborough, Sterling Marlin, and Denny Hamlin. Now it’s just hard to win on superspeedway with all the fuel saving and parity racing. Even Hamlin who is a three-time winner hasn’t been able to win a 500 in the Next Gen car. Meanwhile, Byron has been successful in doing it two years in a row. So what can we expect from the 27-year-old next year?

“Winning this race two years in a row already feels surreal, but hey, if we’re in position again next year, why not go for three?”, he said. The unpredictability of superspeedway racing, combined with the intensity of the draft and late-race strategy, makes this goal incredibly ambitious. Yet, with the right team and mindset, Byron is ready to take on history. While Daytona is the sport’s biggest race, Byron’s ultimate goal is a Cup Series championship. Whether Byron can secure the historic three-peat remains uncertain. One thing is clear—he is certainly living up to the expectation and carrying on the winning legacy for the #24 car.