William Byron Wins Daytona 500

Forty years to the day since Hendrick Motorsports competed in its first Daytona 500, William Byron gave the Chevrolet-powered organization its ninth victory in “The Great American Race” on Monday. Byron’s triumph in a Camaro ZL1 tied the Hendrick team for the most all-time in the crown-jewel event.

After persistent rain on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series opener finally got underway at the iconic 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Monday afternoon. Due to a crash in his qualifying Duel on Thursday, Byron was forced to go to a backup car and start from the rear in his No. 24 Camaro ZL1. He soon worked his way forward to score points in the race’s first two stages. As the laps wound down, he was again at the front of the pack and avoided a melee that took out much of the field on Lap 193.

Byron grabbed the lead when the race resumed, and when another accident occurred near the start-finish line coming to the white flag, he was just ahead of his Hendrick and Chevrolet teammate Alex Bowman as caution was displayed. With the final lap having already commenced when the caution period began, the field was frozen and Byron completed the final circuit to win his first Daytona 500. He led just the final four laps en route to the victory.

The 26-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, began his career by sim racing on his computer and remembers watching the Daytona 500 from the grandstands as a kid. He scored his first career Cup victory in the summer race at Daytona in 2020, and Monday’s win represented his 11th overall. All have come with Team Chevy.

He is now the 19th different driver to take Chevrolet to victory in the Daytona 500.

“I am just so proud of this team - this whole No. 24 Axalta Chevy team, winning on the 40th anniversary to the day [of Hendrick Motorsports’ first race],” Byron said. “Just extremely blessed and thankful for all the opportunities and we just want to keep it going. We have a lot to prove this year, and this is a good start, obviously. Daytona 500, it's freaking awesome. Let’s go.”

His win was the Bowtie Brand’s 26th all-time in the race, its series-leading 51st Cup Series triumph at Daytona International Speedway, and its 852nd premier series win overall. Chevrolet leads all manufacturers in each of those categories. Byron’s win was also the second in a row for Chevrolet in the February event.

“Congratulations to William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team on their win in the 2024 Daytona 500,” said Scott Bell, Vice President, Global Chevrolet. “Winning NASCAR’s most iconic race is a goal for Chevrolet each season, and we are proud to have William bring home our 26th victory in the Great American Race.”

The Camaro ZL1 claimed four of the top-10 finishing positions in the Daytona 500, as Bowman came home second, Corey LaJoie took the fourth spot and AJ Allmendinger finished sixth.

Chevrolet also celebrated a milestone on Friday evening, as Nick Sanchez’s win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 represented the manufacturer’s 100th NASCAR victory at Daytona. Sanchez’s triumph came behind the wheel of Rev Racing’s Chevrolet Silverado RST and was the first of his Truck Series career. Additionally, Austin Hill drove his Richard Childress Racing Camaro SS to Victory Lane in Monday’s rain-delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 300. His win in the race after the Daytona 500 gave Chevrolet a clean sweep of the weekend.

At Daytona, William Byron and the entire Bowtie Brigade put their competition on notice during the most prestigious NASCAR weekend of all.

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