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Byron's 'got the whole package' - Hendrick

Wednesday, 09 August 2017


By Kelly Crandall/ Images by Nigel Kinrade/LAT & Matt Thacker/LAT


As a kid, William Byron often visited the Hendrick Motorsports race shop in Concord, N.C., but only got to look through the windows. At the No. 5 and No. 24 shop, Byron could walk right up and look at the teams preparing the cars.
With Wednesday's announcement that he will be the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet beginning next season, Byron will be the person race fans are soon staring at through those windows.
"It (will be) pretty cool to be on the other side of it next year," said Byron during a teleconference with the media.
The deal solidifying Byron's future came together Sunday night. Rick Hendrick called an unexpected – to Byron at least – meeting with the driver, who also had his father with him, and asked him if he'd like to drive a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car next year. Byron didn't hesitate when saying, "I'm ready."
In November, Byron will turn 20 and then his Cup Series debut will come in February's Daytona 500. Byron will also compete for Rookie of the Year honors. Signed to a development team at Hendrick this time last year, Byron – a Hendrick Motorsports fan growing up – is looking forward to further integrating himself into the shop as a driver.
"It's been really cool," Byron said. "I've been able to participate in a few different activities and things that we've been doing on the side, so it's been neat to understand and learn the culture. But, honestly, I've been with JR Motorsports mainly, so it's been most of the time over at JRM and learning the guys over there.
"I think as the weeks continue I'll learn more about the system and be able to understand what's going on here more, but right now I'm more focusing on JRM and this year."
A rookie in the Xfinity Series, Byron has already earned three wins this season. He is locked into the playoffs when the NASCAR post-season begins next month.
For Hendrick, this is not a new position to be in. As a 12-time championship-winning car owner in the Cup Series, Hendrick has developed talent before such as Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, even Jimmie Johnson and now Chase Elliott. With those experiences in his pocket, Hendrick knows what words of advice he will impart onto Byron as his first season approaches.
"I think just not get ahead of yourself and focus on the job at hand and let us worry about the rest of it. Let's try to win that (Xfinity) championship," Hendrick said. "Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley (Earnhardt Miller), and LW (Miller) up at JRM have done an unbelievable job ... our goal there has been to grow young crew members and grow crew chiefs, grow drivers. And you look at the track record all the way back to Brad (Keselowski) and Chase, now William."
But Hendrick (pictured at right, below, with Byron) can still admit with a small chuckle it's hard to believe how quickly things have progressed in the last 12 months.
"It was just about a year ago at Bristol that William and I went into the media center and everybody was asking, 'Do you think he's ready for Xfinity? He's in the truck Series, do you think he's ready?" Hendrick said. "And now we're here one year later and we're talking about the Cup Series.
"I think that just speaks to his talent. You can't teach speed and you can't train talent and he's got all the other qualities of smart, dedicated culture, just work ethic. He's got the whole package."