HMS ace delivers blunt ‘improve’ message after underutilized ‘potential’ with crew chief

HMS' top-ranked 2024 driver William Byron has delivered a blunt message amid underutilized potential with crew chief Rudy Fugle. Byron raked in three victories this past season but witnessed the lowest point since his partnership with Fugle began in 2021.

Fugle and Byron's maiden season at Hendrick Motorsports was sufficient to make the playoffs but not the Championship 4. The duo claimed a solitary win, 12 top-5s, 20 top-10s, and led 425 laps. As the year progressed, so did their performance.

In 2023, Byron and Fugle's combination was one for the ages. They clinched six victories, 15 top-5s, 21 top-10s, and led a staggering 1017 laps -the #24 Chevrolet driver's best stats since debuting in the 2018 Cup Series season.

However, a big downfall was witnessed this past season. Not only did Byron close the year with three wins down from six last year, but also led the lowest laps (357) since pairing up with Fugle. It's worth mentioning that Byron succumbed to multiple podium finishes which could've been wins.

Thus, the HMS driver delivered a blunt message, outlining that they have room to improve and that he needs more speed entering the 2025 season.

“I think it was a good year. I’d like to have more speed next year and just lead more laps. I think a lot of that’s in my control and our team’s control, and I think we can work on that in the offseason, just kind of getting a little bit better at certain tracks. Definitely Phoenix is high on that list. We’ve got a lot of room to improve there. I thought our potential was a little bit better this year compared to last year, honestly, but yeah, we just need to keep working on those tracks and then just lead more laps," Byron said via NASCAR.

It's worth mentioning that despite hitting his lowest point, Byron outperformed all HMS teammates.

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A look at William Byron's HMS teammates Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman's rank after the Championship Race at Phoenix

Statistically, Kyle Larson was the best-performing HMS driver, with six wins, 15 top-15, 18 top-10s, and a whopping 1700 laps led. However, his playoff performance failed to comply with the knockout format, and thus, he was eliminated after the Round of 8 finale at the Martinsville Speedway, ending the season in sixth place.

Chase Elliott ran his first full-time season after getting sidelined last year following a snowboarding accident. The Georgian claimed the Texas Motor Speedway win, thus qualifying for the playoffs. Even though the #9 Chevy driver posted four top-5s and seven top-10s in the final 10-race slate, he failed to make it past the Round of 8, settling one place below his teammate Larson, in seventh place.

Alex Bowman secured his playoff ticket after winning the second edition of the Chicago Street Race. However, disappointment knocked on the #48 Chevy's door after the playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, as his NextGen car was found underweight. Thus, Bowman was disqualified and Joey Logano got reinstated, ultimately becoming a three-time Cup Series champion. Meanwhile, Bowman wrapped the 2024 season in ninth place.