William Byron Fires Back at Daytona 500 “Luck” Critics: “I’m Not Going to Apologize!
February 23, 2025
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William Byron has faced some strong criticism following his second consecutive win at the Daytona 500, sparking a discussion regarding the role of luck in the race.
He’s been targeted by critics who argue that luck played a large role in his recent win. However, Byron has been nothing but amused over these claims.
He told reporters:
“It just makes me chuckle,” he said in yesterday’s press conference at Atlanta.
William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
“I don’t really read too much into stuff outside my circle of people. Obviously, I’m proud of the win, I’m not going to apologize for it, and I’m excited for my team,” he added.
Taking part in the NASCAR Cup Series for the seventh season, the 26-year-old William Byron drives the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, a team with a history of immense success in the sport.
Unlike many of his peers who started racing from a young age, Byron’s career in racing began at age 15 with online racing simulations. As he continued on his career path, success came knocking, and his back-to-back victories at the Daytona 500 in 2024 and 2025 clearly prove the heights he has reached.
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The Daytona 500 is often viewed as The Great American Race and holds immense stature in the NASCAR Cup Series. Winning it is a career-defining achievement, something Byron had now done twice consecutively, a feat previously matched by Denny Hamlin in 2019 and 2020.
Hamlin is particularly vocal about his views on the race. He suggested that the race is increasingly dependent on luck rather than skill, as large-scale crashes have frequently affected the success of drivers, sometimes overshadowing exceptional racing.
“Are we going to start viewing the Dayton 500 winners like we question our champions,” Hamlin said on his podcast, Actions Detrimental. “It’s a bunch of questions now. It’s ‘Yeah, but’ and I hate that for the winners because this is their big moment to shine … but I hate the fact of how much luck is involved in NASCAR now.”
Byron, during the final race stage, started his decisive push from a tenth-place position. He tactfully worked his way up to seventh on the last lap and was keenly prepared to avoid a multi-car crash that claimed several challengers.
His quick thinking allowed him to slide up against the wall, leading to the win as he outpaced Tyler Reddick to the finish line.
“I go into it and try to control the things I can control. Obviously, I was fortunate in that situation, but I made moves leading up to that [which] put me in that position, and I sensed that it was coming and just tried to position myself.”
More News: Denny Hamlin Posts Strong Reaction to Daytona 500 Result
“When I started superspeedway racing, I treated it as luck and strategy didn’t really work out very well,” Byron said.
His win also adds to Hendrick Motorsports’ impressive record with their 10th Daytona 500 victory, making them the most successful team in the race’s history. While Byron points out the factors that led to his fortunate positioning, he is excited for his team and satisfied with the race’s outcome.
“I go into it and try to control the things I can control. Obviously I was fortunate in that situation, but I made moves leading up to that [which] put me in that position, and I sensed that it was coming and just tried to position myself.
“I don’t really read too much into stuff outside my circle of people. Obviously I’m proud of the win, I’m not going to apologize for it, and I’m excited for my team.”
For the latest NASCAR news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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