Can William Byron Make History With A Daytona 500 Three-Peat?
The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s Super Bowl, a chaotic, high-speed chess match where luck often plays as big a role as horsepower. But as the engines fire up this February, William Byron is sitting on the edge of history.
Driving the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Byron enters Speedweeks with a resume that no one else in the garage can match right now: back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025. If he crosses the finish line first again this year, he won’t just be a champion; he’ll be a legend, standing alone in the record books.
The anticipation is palpable. Fans, bettors, and rival crew chiefs are all asking the same question: Can he actually pull it off?
The Weight of History on the No. 24
Winning the Daytona 500 once is the pinnacle of a career for most drivers. It’s the trophy everyone wants on their mantle. Winning it twice puts you in the Hall of Fame conversation. Winning it back-to-back? That puts you in an incredibly exclusive club.
Only a handful of legends have ever managed consecutive wins at Daytona, a list that includes names like Richard Petty and Sterling Marlin. But a “three-peat” has remained elusive. The nature of superspeedway racing—where “The Big One” (a massive multi-car wreck) lurks around every corner—makes consistency nearly impossible.
Byron’s consecutive triumphs have shattered the usual narrative that Daytona is just a lottery. His wins weren’t flukes; they were clinics in positioning, timing, and survival. In 2024, he navigated a rain-delayed chaos fest. In 2025, he defended the title with a masterclass in blocking and drafting. Now, the pressure is on to see if that formula works a third time.
Why Byron Is the Favorite (And the Target)
Usually, heading into Daytona, the field is wide open. But Byron’s recent dominance has shifted the odds. However, being the favorite comes with a massive target on your back. In previous years, Byron might have been able to fly under the radar until the final laps. Safe to say, he won’t have a lot of friends during this race.
This year, every spotter on the roof will be watching the No. 24. Rival teams know that if they let Byron control the draft late in the race, he’s likely to win. Expect to see competitors forming alliances specifically designed to shuffle him out of the lead pack.
The Strategy: Surviving the Chaos
For Byron and his crew chief, the strategy for a three-peat involves a delicate balance of risk and reward. To win at Daytona, you have to be near the front to avoid the mid-pack wrecks, but being at the front burns fuel and leaves you vulnerable to a slingshot pass.
The team’s execution on pit road will be critical. Superspeedway races are often won or lost during green-flag pit stops, where getting on and off the track with your drafting partners is essential. One loose lug nut or a stalled engine could end the dream of a three-peat instantly.
Furthermore, the “luck factor” remains the great equalizer. No matter how good the car is, Byron is at the mercy of the drivers around him. A blown tire or a mistake by a rookie three rows ahead can collect the best car in the field. That’s the cruelty and the beauty of Daytona.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has anyone ever won three straight Daytona 500s?
No. Since the inaugural race in 1959, no driver has ever achieved three consecutive victories. It remains one of the toughest records to break in motorsports.
Why is William Byron considered a favorite?
His back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025 demonstrate that he and his team have cracked the code for superspeedway racing. His consistency and the speed of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet make him the man to beat.
Does skill or luck matter more at Daytona?
It’s a mix of both. You need immense skill to navigate the draft and make split-second decisions at 200 mph. However, you need luck to avoid the inevitable wrecks that happen around you.
The Final Lap
Whether he makes history or gets caught up in the “Big One,” William Byron’s chase for a third consecutive Daytona 500 is the defining storyline of Speedweeks. The engines are primed, the fans are ready, and history is waiting. All that’s left is for the green flag to drop.
