For the third consecutive year, Team Penske proved untouchable in the NASCAR Cup Series, with Joey Logano securing his third championship and teammate Ryan Blaney finishing second in the standings. Yet, Hendrick Motorsports, a powerhouse in its own right, was expected to challenge this dominance. While Kyle Larson initially seemed poised to lead the charge, it was William Byron and the #24 team who emerged as Penske’s fiercest rival by championship weekend.
Byron delivered a commendable effort at Phoenix, finishing third in the race and the overall standings. However, the result left a bitter taste, particularly for his crew chief Rudy Fugle, who had invested four seasons in shaping the #24 team into a championship contender. Fugle’s disappointment post-race was palpable, a stark contrast to the usually composed Byron.
A Season of Highs and Hard Truths for Byron and Fugle
The 2024 season began with a bang for Byron, who clinched a career-first Daytona 500 victory and later triumphed at Martinsville during Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th-anniversary celebration. However, after three early-season wins, Byron hit a dry spell, forcing the #24 team to grind their way to the Championship 4. While a controversial playoff entry at Martinsville raised eyebrows, Byron silenced critics with a consistent performance that mirrored his 2023 run.
Despite this, the Phoenix finale proved a bridge too far. Penske’s drivers, particularly Logano and Blaney, maintained their stranglehold on the championship, leaving Byron and Fugle wondering what might have been.
Raw Emotions and Lessons Learned
Following the race, Fugle’s frustration was evident, an unusual role reversal as it is typically the drivers who wear their emotions on their sleeves. Reflecting on Fugle’s reaction, Byron shed light on the dynamic between them:
“All of our postseason meetings and talks about Phoenix are in a great spot, and we’re ready to go next year. Emotions are raw right after the race… I think it was just kind of real for him.”
This candid acknowledgment underscores the stakes and passion that fuel the #24 team. Fugle viewed the 2024 season as a golden opportunity to bring the Bill France Cup back to Hendrick Motorsports, especially with Larson’s and Elliott’s teams out of the title picture. Yet, as Byron admitted, there’s still room for improvement.
Focus on the Future: Breaking the Penske Stranglehold
As the team shifts its focus to 2025, Byron is clear-eyed about the challenges ahead:
“We’ve got a lot of room to improve there. I thought our potential was a little bit better this year compared to last year… The last seven weeks, all top six. That was really strong, but we just need to work on a couple of little things.”
Consistency is key, but Byron knows leading more laps and excelling at critical moments will be crucial to dethroning Penske. The late-season surge proved the team’s mettle, but turning that momentum into championship glory will require perfection.
The Path to Redemption
With Penske at the height of its powers, Byron and Fugle face a formidable task in 2025. Yet, their steady ascent over the past four years and lessons from two straight Championship 4 appearances suggest they are on the brink of something special.
Will Byron finally break Penske’s dominance and claim his first title, or will the #24 team’s valiant efforts remain overshadowed by Penske’s brilliance? The answer lies in the grind of the coming season, where every lap will count.