William Byron has acknowledged that Hendrick Motorsports is underperforming during the opening phase of the NASCAR Cup Series season, as Tyler Reddick’s commanding wins have propelled him to a significant points advantage. After the first three races, Byron finds himself 13th in the standings, aware that his team must improve to stay competitive amid Reddick’s NASCAR dominance.
Byron Maintains Focus Despite Early Season Setbacks
Byron admitted the recent points losses have been especially frustrating.
“I just feel like those sting a little more than they used to,”
he said, addressing mistakes including a crash at Atlanta and difficulties during a late-race restart the following week. These errors have had an outsized effect in a format where each race carries immense importance.
Being candid about his current form, Byron noted,
“We’ve scored 25-26 points on average. We’d like to score 35 to 40 on average. So definitely below average right now.”
The initial race venues — Daytona, Atlanta, and the Circuit of The Americas — haven’t reflected the kind of tracks he believes are necessary for championship success.
He and fellow driver Christopher Bell discussed how the early schedule requires an adjustment period.
“It just feels like the longer we do this, the more it takes a few races to kind of get into the meat of the season,”
Byron explained.
Upcoming Races Offer Opportunities for Hendrick Motorsports to Rebound
Looking forward, Byron anticipates races at Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Darlington will better suit his team’s strengths. Phoenix’s short track demands precision, Las Vegas offers a classic intermediate challenge, and Darlington presents its unique difficulties. These events are viewed as the critical stretch where Byron hopes his team can gain momentum.
However, Bryon’s task is made harder by Tyler Reddick’s exceptional start. The 23XI Racing driver has already triumphed in all three races this season, an impressive feat often regarded as a full-year accomplishment. For context, Byron himself recorded three wins throughout last year’s entire season.
Adding to the challenge, NASCAR’s revised points system now awards 15 extra points per win, further extending Reddick’s lead. While teammate Bubba Wallace occupies second place in the standings, he trails Reddick by nearly the equivalent of one and a half race wins. Byron is even further behind, at over two wins’ worth of points.
Byron Praises Reddick’s Performance but Keeps Sights on Team Improvement
Byron acknowledged the gap in points but emphasized his focus remains internal.
“They’ve hit a home run on two drafting tracks,”
he said of the 23XI Racing team.
“To score the points that they did is phenomenal.”
He was not taken aback by Reddick’s road course strength at COTA, where Reddick has historically excelled. Instead, Byron credited Reddick’s performance without dwelling on it.
Stressing his team’s mentality, Byron stated,
“For us on the 24 team, it’s not really about looking at anyone else. It’s looking at ourselves.”
He added that if the points gap remains by race 26, regrets would be inevitable, but he believes there is ample time left to alter the trajectory.
“There’s going to be plenty of ebb and flow in the next 20-22 weeks,”
Byron said.
Long Season Leaves Door Open for Hendrick Motorsports to Regain Ground
The lengthy NASCAR schedule often involves swings in momentum, with dominant teams sometimes experiencing downturns and slower starters eventually finding their rhythm. Byron’s experience reinforces this perspective, as he led the points for much of last season before claiming the regular season title.
Still, cleaner execution is essential. Byron needs fewer crashes and improved finishes during late race runs to close the gap. With the talent available to the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team, this coming weekend’s race will provide an important indication of how quickly they can return to contention amid Tyler Reddick’s NASCAR dominance.
