Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Edition

Global Global

William Byron battled Daytona “gremlins” but praises stand-in crew chief after penalty-hit race

Regular-season champion William Byron battled a rear-start penalty, early “gremlins,” and an incident at Daytona, but praised stand-in crew chief Brandon McSwain

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen - Getty Images

William Byron reflected on the NASCAR Cup regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway - a race which saw him start on the back foot then wrestle with "gremlins" that plagued his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Fortunately, Brandon McSwain, stepping in as his crew chief for Daytona, worked well with the driver.

Byron secured the 2025 Cup regular season championship at Richmond and finished 19th in today's superspeedway race. Ahead of Saturday's campaign, crew chief Rudy Fugle was ejected following an inspection violation. McSwain replaced the New Yorker. 

"Thank you to everyone back at the shop. I thought Brandon did a really good job stepping in tonight," Byron said after the race. "We've worked together for probably a decade, really, since the JR Motorsports days.

"He did a good job, and I'm sure all the work that Rudy was doing back at the shop helped Brandon, as well."

After NASCAR officials spotted Hendrick Motorsports making unapproved adjustments to the No. 24 Chevrolet, Byron was also penalised. Starting at the rear of the pack, he had to serve a pass-through penalty at the race start. 

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen - Getty Images

"Just really proud of the effort by this No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet team. We had some gremlins there at the beginning of the race. We just had some weird stuff going on.

"Really nothing was wrong with the car, we just got in that early crash and thought we might have had some damage. But overall, our Chevy was good enough to compete for the win.

"I just wish I could take a couple decisions back in the final stage, and really, that caution hurt us because we were kind of mired in the back and it was hard to pass."

Despite a difficult race, the North Carolina driver is confident in himself and his machinery.

"I thought our weekend was smooth, all things considered. Just excited to get to Darlington. It’s one of our best racetracks, and I’m sure we’ll be fast there.”

Byron enters the playoffs as the second seed behind Kyle Larson.

Photos from Daytona - Race

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

General view

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

General view

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Multi-car wreck

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Multi-car wreck

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Multi-car wreck

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

NASCAR Cup
34
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Previous article Daniel Suarez agonizes over Daytona loss, promises a win “soon”
Next article Ryan Preece explains his "shitty situation" while leading late at Daytona

Top Comments

Recommended for you

'We don't want a chess game' - FIA responds to claims F1’s 2026 cars are too complex

'We don't want a chess game' - FIA responds to claims F1’s 2026 cars are too complex

Formula 1
'We don't want a chess game' - FIA responds to claims F1’s 2026 cars are too complex
Denny Hamlin fires back after Mamba Smith's Daytona prank in viral X social media exchange

Denny Hamlin fires back after Mamba Smith's Daytona prank in viral X social media exchange

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Denny Hamlin fires back after Mamba Smith's Daytona prank in viral X social media exchange
Ryan Blaney responds to Alex Bowman's promise of "seven million beers" with counter-offer

Ryan Blaney responds to Alex Bowman's promise of "seven million beers" with counter-offer

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Ryan Blaney responds to Alex Bowman's promise of "seven million beers" with counter-offer
Leigh Diffey confronts criticism after Daytona regular season finale

Leigh Diffey confronts criticism after Daytona regular season finale

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Leigh Diffey confronts criticism after Daytona regular season finale
Alexander Rossi thrilled for ECR’s Milwaukee success after “missed opportunities”

Alexander Rossi thrilled for ECR’s Milwaukee success after “missed opportunities”

IndyCar
Milwaukee
Alexander Rossi thrilled for ECR’s Milwaukee success after “missed opportunities”
Denny Hamlin says Bubba Wallace at fault for pileup crash: "Not clear"

Denny Hamlin says Bubba Wallace at fault for pileup crash: "Not clear"

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Denny Hamlin says Bubba Wallace at fault for pileup crash: "Not clear"
Christian Rasmussen steals maiden IndyCar win after late weather caution

Christian Rasmussen steals maiden IndyCar win after late weather caution

IndyCar
Milwaukee
Christian Rasmussen steals maiden IndyCar win after late weather caution
Winners and losers from an unbelievable NASCAR Cup finish at Daytona

Winners and losers from an unbelievable NASCAR Cup finish at Daytona

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Winners and losers from an unbelievable NASCAR Cup finish at Daytona

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Edition

Global Global
Filters