William Byron still adjusting to Cup Series fame, 24 legacy

By Nick Tylwalk | Mar 4, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 03: William Byron, driver of the #24 AXALTA Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

While he figures things out behind the wheel, NASCAR Cup Series rookie William Byron is getting used to life in the top circuit outside the car as well.

Though he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire two races into his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, no one expects William Byron to stay in the middle of the pack for long. As he’s shown during his rapid rise to the top, he’s hard to beat once he gets settled in, and at age 20, time is definitely on his side.

But he’s having a whirlwind of things thrown at him in 2018, including the higher intensity of Cup Series competition and a new crew led by crew chief Darian Grubb. At the same time, Byron is learning about the increased demands on his time, which include not only a longer schedule and his Liberty University schoolwork, but also the rewards and challenges that come with fame.

As Byron told reporters in a conference call this week from Las Vegas, he’s getting already getting noticed more when he’s not in his firesuit.

“It’s been a lot different from what I’m used to,” Byron said. “The first week in Daytona, I was just kind of approaching things the same way, and I went out to eat, and it was just one thing after another. That was really cool to see. It’s definitely flattering, and it’s cool that people are following what we’re doing.”

Part of Byron’s higher profile is of his own making, as he blazed his way to the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship while still a teenager. While he says that only “an avid fan” would point him out in the garage last year, you have to figure that changed a bit as the season went on.

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On top of that, Byron was handed a legacy he wasn’t necessarily expecting when it was first announced Hendrick Motorsports was promoting him to cup. Initially, he was going to drive the No. 5, a car with its share of history thanks to the likes of Terry Labonte and Mark Martin, but not one most fans would necessarily classify as iconic.

The 24 he sports on his car today (a result of some number swapping that put Chase Elliott in the No. 9 associated with his family) is a much different story. All of a sudden, Byron was filling the shoes of Jeff Gordon, as well as inheriting some of his fans.

“I would say the biggest difference is the 24 fans that have kind of come over,” Byron said. “I was walking in the media center, and there was a lady with her ‘24 Forever’ shirt on. Those things are different for me, and I’m trying to understand that, trying to understand how I can make my own name and really be my own person.”

Along with that recognition comes an increased number of people offering their opinions on his team. Byron has a Twitter account, but he’s not nearly as active on social media as some of his fellow NASCAR young guns. He laughed while recounting how some people occasionally hit things on the head when it comes to what his team needs to do to improve, but also says he doesn’t pay all that much attention to what outsiders are saying on Twitter or elsewhere.

“I don’t,” Byron said. “I really don’t look at a lot of comments. People around me do more. … I know what is happening with our team and how we need to work on it, and nobody else can really tell what that is.”

At the track, it’s a different story. Recalling his own experiences before he became a race car driver, Byron already sounds like someone wise beyond his years when it comes to acknowledging and appreciating everyone who is pulling for him. Certainly, he understands, as much as he can at this early stage, the love for both the team he drives for and the number he carries on his Chevy.

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As his performances improve, more fans will flock to him for his own considerable talents. It’s hard to do anything but assume Byron will get everything balanced out properly, just as he will in his car.

“You have to be at practice, you can’t just stop for each person, but you’ve got to walk with them and make sure that they get the right impression from the weekend,” Byron said. “That interaction is crucial, so you want to make sure they have a good time.”