NASCAR Cup Series star opens up on 2025 title hopes

NASCAR Cup Series News Friday, July 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET •By Chris Deeley

NASCAR Cup Series points leader William Byron has opened up on his chances of claiming a first title in 2025.

While Byron is only 27 years old, the Hendrick Motorsports star has already started 272 races in the Cup Series, winning 14 of those and finishing in the top ten in a further 101.

The back-to-back Daytona 500 winner appears primed for his first championship either this year or in the near future, having reached the Final 4 in his last two years of running.

Byron's consistency may have reached a new level this year, but that appears to have come at the cost of race wins – having not visited victory road since the first weekend of the season.

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Byron: I've always wanted it bad

Speaking to Forbes, Byron said of the Hendrick Motorsports organization: "It just says that I feel like we just do a really good job as teams. I'd say there's been other teams that have been really fast this year.

"We've had our fair share of races when we've been really fast, but I think that just all three, four teams have done a good job executing and just working together. That's the strength, is in our people and just the way that we interact and work as a team."

He added: "I feel like I've always wanted it really bad. Now it's just trying to do it in a smart way. Just trying to be smart about my approach and channeling that motivation towards the right thing.

"It's always a little bit that you learn throughout the years and it's never been from a lack of effort. Just trying to dial in what I need to do on the track and with my team."