Kyle Petty observes many parallels between William Byron and Jeff Gordon. The dominant driver at Hendrick Motorsports in the Nex-Gen era has been the subject of debate. He has the most wins since the start of the 2022 season, with nine victories. The driver of the No. 24 car 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 won four championships driving the No. 24 Chevy for HMS. As a former rival of Gordon and son of a NASCAR legend, Petty explains how Byron emulates the same style as the HMS vice president.
Petty emphasizes that, like Gordon, the current driver of the No. 24 is a savvy racer who can provide valuable feedback to the team to improve the car’s performance. This skill was crucial for Gordon to surpass NASCAR legends.
Before giving his verdict on their similarities, Petty highlights more similarities between mentor Gordon and his student Byron. The eight-time race winner notes that the young driver talks about the team and the sport in a similar way to his mentor, without giving insincere answers. However, Petty states that Byron still has much to achieve before reaching his boss’s level.
Byron is fully committed to winning the championship this season. His calm approach to racing 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.
