William Byron launched his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with a commanding win at the Daytona 500, his second straight victory in the event, fueling high hopes for Hendrick Motorsports. He’s now second in playoff standings with 2032 points and a +26 cushion. All four HMS drivers, Byron, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman, made the playoffs, highlighting team strength. But as Darlington’s Cook Out Southern 500 approaches Sunday, summer inconsistencies for the No. 24 have sparked debate.

Last year, HMS sent three to the Championship 4, with Byron third after three wins, but 2025 brings a focus on resilience amid early leads and July dips. Byron held the points lead for 21 of 26 races, yet stumbled with three sub-27th finishes at Pocono, Atlanta, and Chicago. August’s rebound, inclu

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