William Byron Proud of His Team for Season Domination Despite Championship Heartbreak

NASCAR driver William Byron may not have clinched the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship. But he’s not letting that overshadow the outstanding season he and the #24 team had. The disappointment of falling short in the championship race hasn’t dampened Byron’s spirits as he reflects on a season that saw him reach new heights.

In his sixth full-time season in the Cup Series, Byron reached the Championship 4 for the first time. He dominated the season, leading in wins with six and boasting an impressive average finish of 11.0. He also secured an impressive 21 top-10 finishes. Byron tied for the most top-five finishes with teammate Kyle Larson and recorded a single-season high in laps led, crossing the 1,000-lap mark. He secured four poles, including the one for the championship race at the Phoenix Raceway, leading the opening 92 laps. However, despite his strong start, Byron eventually finished fourth in the championship race, with Ryan Blaney taking the title.

William Byron is proud of his team’s effort throughout the season

William Byron’s partnership with crew chief Rudy Fugle paid off, marking the most successful season for the #24 car since 2007. Their pit crew consistently outperformed the competition, consistently posting the fastest average four-tire pit stop time throughout the season. In the playoffs, Byron’s performance remained consistent, with an impressive 6.1 average finish across ten playoff races.

After easily advancing through the early playoff rounds, Byron secured his spot in the Round of 8 with a victory at Texas Motor Speedway. With a 1.66 average finish in the three-race Round of 12, including runner-up finishes at the Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Roval, Byron continued to impress. Despite a tense race in Martinsville in the Round of 8, the Hendrick Motorsports driver managed to advance.

Reflecting on the season, Byron expressed his pride in his team’s performance. According to HendrickMotorsports.com, he said, “We had a great season. A lot to be proud of. A lot of really solid races. Communicating well as a team. I feel like all that stuff can just go up a notch. Hopefully, we just have a bit more speed at certain tracks that we know are important.”

Reflecting on the season finale, Byron acknowledged that there were moments when he felt his team was the best. However, as the race progressed, they struggled to maintain the same level of performance, particularly when running in traffic. Despite the disappointment of not winning the championship, Byron remains hopeful for the future. He said, “It stinks to come up short. I’d like to think we’re going to be back in this position, and we’re going to have more shots at it. We just have to keep working.”

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While William Byron is proud of his team’s performance in 2023, his teammate, Kyle Larson, has his sights set on the 2024 season.

Kyle Larson can’t wait for the 2024 season after falling short to Ryan Blaney for 2nd title

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Kyle Larson fell short in his bid for the 2023 Cup Series Championship, finishing third in the championship race and second in the final standings. During the final stage of the season finale, Larson found himself running third among the Championship 4 drivers, with Ryan Blaney leading, followed by William Byron. Christopher Bell had already exited because of a brake rotor failure. However, a strategic green-flag pit stop elevated Larson to the second-highest position among the title contenders.

Although Larson’s pit crew executed a remarkable 9.91-second pit stop. It was Ryan Blaney who ultimately claimed the lead in the championship with 20 laps to go. Despite this disappointment, Larson remains confident and eager to improve in the upcoming season, stating, “Coming up this close, I’m probably more eager for the following season already. I know where I need to improve. I’m just ready to get back on the track and work on all that.”

Larson’s performance in the 2023 season was remarkable, winning four points-paying races, securing 15 top-five finishes, notching 18 top-10 finishes, and leading a series-best 1,127 laps. His excellence on the track was undeniable.

As the 2023 season comes to an end, William Byron and Kyle Larson both reflect on their respective performances in 2023. One is proud of his team’s accomplishments and the other eagerly anticipates the opportunity for future success. NASCAR fans can look forward to another thrilling season of competition in the year ahead.

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