Has there ever been a driver duo as prolific and as legendary as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson? The two Hendrick Motorsports drivers have a mixed 11 NASCAR Cup championships between them together with 176 wins. And William Byron, HMS’ youngest star, has arguably inherited the very best of each Gordon and Johnson.
This is as a result of, whereas Byron is the present driver of the #24 staff, a quantity synonymous with the success and legend of Jeff Gordon, he’s additionally an enormous fan of Jimmie Johnson. The Hendrick driver lately opened up on rising up as a Jimmie Johnson fan, his relationship with the 2 legends, in addition to his take on inheriting the followers of the 4x Cup champion, contemplating he’s the present driver of Jeff Gordon’s racecar.
William Byron opens up on his relationship with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson
During a latest interview, Byron was requested how he feels driving the #24 automobile whereas rising up as extra of a fan of the #48. “I used to be clearly a Jimmie fan, however being a Hendrick fan, I liked each of them,” Byron mentioned.
He defined that he has grown “actually fond” of Jeff Gordon, as he’s gotten to know him personally. At the identical time, he nonetheless has “an excellent relationship” with Jimmie Johnson.
“But Jeff and I’ve gotten actually shut over the previous couple of years. And I feel it’s been sort of an acquired relationship. When I watched him race, I used to be like, ‘Man, I needed the 48 to win,’ however now I really like speaking to Jeff,” Byron added.
William Byron grew up a Jimmie Johnson fan. So what does he take into consideration driving the 24, contemplating Jeff Gordon and Johnson didn’t all the time see eye-to-eye as teammates? pic.twitter.com/QXFYZ2ABIA
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 21, 2023
Byron on inheriting Gordon’s followers
Further into the interview, the Hendrick Motorsports driver was requested whether or not he feels the #24 racecar nonetheless carries some significance for Gordon followers and whether or not he has inherited some of Gordon’s followers, contemplating he drives his legendary automobile. “I do. I feel we get loads of assist from loads of conventional Hendrick followers, #24 followers,” Byron mentioned.
The #24 driver claimed that Gordon followers, the standard Hendrick #24 followers, have all the time been there for him, even in his rookie yr, when he was struggling considerably. But his opinion on his personal struggles has now modified in comparison with “the modern-day rookie.” Despite that, Byron claimed that it was harder than what he anticipated. “I feel the followers caught by us, and they continued to assist us,” he added.
And now that they’ve began to win races, which he has accomplished 5 occasions up to now this season, Byron is grateful for these conventional #24 followers who’ve all the time been there for him.
The put up “I Loved Both of Them”: William Byron Opens Up on His Relationship With Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson appeared first on The SportsRush.
