William Byron signs extension with Hendrick Motorsports

Two-time Daytona 500 champion William Byron signed a four-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports on Friday.

The deal keeps Byron, 27, behind the wheel of the No. 24 Chevrolet through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season.

"We've built something special with the No. 24 team," Byron said in a team news release. "I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue working with amazing people at Hendrick Motorsports who believe in me, especially Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick. We've accomplished some great things that we're really proud of, but we have even bigger goals ahead. I'm excited to go after them with this team and this organization."

Byron, whose current contract expires at the end of this season, ranks second in the Cup Series standings through 13 races this season, 35 points behind Hendrick teammate Kyle Larson.

Byron initially signed with Hendrick in 2016 at age 18 and was the Cup Series Rookie of the Year in 2018. His 14 wins at NASCAR's top level include back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 2024 and 2025.

"William is the real deal," owner Rick Hendrick said. "What makes him so special is that he combines natural ability with an unrivaled work ethic.

"You see it in the great ones -- the drivers who could get by on talent alone but choose to outwork everyone anyway. That's William. On top of it all, he's a person of high character and embraces his role as a leader. We're proud to have him in our lineup and look forward to many more wins together."

Byron's new contract extends farther than his Hendrick teammates Larson (signed through 2026), Alex Bowman (2026) and Chase Elliott (2027).

Byron is doing double-duty this weekend in Charlotte, N.C., competing in Saturday's Xfinity Series race as well as Sunday's Coca-Cola 600.