Kyle Petty observes many parallels between Willaim Byron and Jeff Gordon. Hendrick Motorsports’ dominant driver in the Nex-Gen era has been arguable. He has the most wins since the beginning of the 2022 season with nine victories. The No:24 driver also holds the most wins in the current 2024 season, including the Daytona 500.
William Byron’s recent victory at Martinsville further solidifies claims that he is the rightful successor to the Hall of Famer who achieved four championships driving the No:24 Chevy for HMS. As a former rival of Gordon and the son of a NASCAR legend, Petty explains how Byron emulates the same style as the HMS vice chairman.
Petty emphasizes that, like Gordon, the current No:24 driver is an insightful racer who can provide valuable input to the team on improving the car’s performance. This ability was crucial for Gordon in surpassing NASCAR legends.
Before delivering his verdict on their similarities, Petty highlights more resemblances between mentor Gordon and his student Byron. The eight-time race winner notes that the young driver speaks about the team and the sport in a similar manner to his mentor, without providing any insincere answers. However, Petty asserts that Byron still has much to accomplish before reaching his boss’s level.
Byron is fully committed to winning the championship this season. His composed approach to races has already earned him three victories, and if he can maintain this form, he has the potential to secure at least two more wins in the regular season.