DAYTONA BEACH — As they stepped off the post-race press convention stage with smiles on their faces, patted on the again and murmured one thing to him.
Possibly a “thanks.” Possibly a wisecrack.
Both would’ve been legitimate.
is a — once more. He ripped off a second straight victory in NASCAR’s Tremendous Bowl, one which acquired the inexperienced flag a couple of minutes after 2 p.m. Sunday and didn’t see the checkers till after 9:30 p.m. at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
Most notably, broke a report — Gordon’s report — for the youngest multi-time Nice American Race champ. The present vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports claimed his second Harley J. Earl Trophy in 1999 at 27 years, six months and 10 days previous.
Byron’s mark: 27 years, two months and 18 days.
“Nicely, I’ve an extended method to go,” he stated. “What do I want, 93 wins or one thing (to tie Gordon’s profession whole)?”
“I hope he breaks all of them,” Gordon stated of his numbers. “I’m in full help of that.”
Sunday wasn’t a passing of the torch by any means. Byron has been in Gordon’s previous No. 24 Hendrick automotive since 2018. Eight seasons, counting this contemporary one, if you happen to can imagine it.
But it surely’s a continuation.
You bear in mind what Gordon did for twenty-four years within the No. 24 Chevy. Three Daytona 500 victories, 4 Cup Sequence titles. And far, rather more.
When he retired, Chase Elliott hopped into the driving force’s seat for 2 seasons and made the playoffs in every.
Byron earned the nod in 2018 when Elliott pivoted to his dad’s previous No. 9.
He captured his first win in 2020 on the Daytona summer time race. Since then, he’s added 13 extra, together with Sunday.
“You guys have witnessed it and seen it,” Gordon stated. “We speak on a regular basis about how shortly he’s risen via the ranks and gained races and championships and continues to do it on the elite degree in Cup …
“William is only a nice man and cares quite a bit concerning the sport and the workforce, and so you would like good issues for him. I used to be telling him, ‘You have to be dwelling proper as a result of the seas parted in the present day.’”
Certainly they did.
Byron started the second and last time beyond regulation lap in ninth. Heading into Flip 3, he had labored his method towards the highest 5 and seemed to dart to the skin as a last-ditch effort. As he did, a crash ignited on the entrance of the pack and picked up site visitors all through.
For Byron, it occurred completely, although. He slipped up the skin wall, avoiding the smoke and carnage and rolled proper into Victory Lane. The warning flag dropped simply after he crossed the stripe.
He’s the fifth back-to-back winner in race historical past and the primary since Denny Hamlin 5 years in the past.
“Clearly, it labored out in a lucky method for us, however it’s not all luck to win twice in a row,” Byron stated. “It’s lots of teamwork.”
Talking of his workforce.
Byron not solely topped Gordon’s multi-time winner age mark. He handed Hendrick its tenth Daytona 500 triumph. That’s essentially the most of any group. Final 12 months, Byron elevated Hendrick right into a tie with longtime record-owner Petty Enterprises.
“I’m simply happy with him,” Gordon stated. “I do know the followers that I get to work together with, there was a time frame the place they had been unhappy that I used to be not in (the No. 24 Hendrick machine), and I can see their pleasure now that that legacy continues on due to what William and the workforce are doing.”
Make no mistake. Byron felt the stress of that legacy early on, he stated Sunday. He needed to modify.
He has.
“Now it’s like, OK, we’re constructing our personal workforce,” Byron stated. “We’ve cool paint schemes. We’ve superior sponsors. And it’s beginning to all come collectively, and we’re actually getting a character to our workforce.”
That character contains profitable on the World Heart of Racing.
Prefer it at all times has for the Hendrick 24.
