William Byron Scores the 24's 100th Cup Win

The 24 in Darlington Victory Lane. Image: HMS

In what would become a NASCAR number dynasty, Jeff Gordon made his first start in November of 1992 in the new #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lumina. On May 29th, 1994 that legacy would truly begin with a young Gordon winning the Coca-Cola 600. Gordon and the #24 would then go on to win the inaugural Brickyard 400 that season as well. He would follow that up with his first championship in just his 3rd season in the Winston Cup Series.

Fast forward to 1998 and 13 wins to tie up his 3rd career Cup Series title. Gordon would retire in 2015 with 93 career victories putting him firmly in 3rd all-time and 1st all-time in the Modern Era of NASCAR racing. 

Gordon would be replaced in the 24 car by the son of Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott, Chase Elliott in 2016. Elliott would go winless in his 2 seasons behind the wheel of the 24 car. In 2018, the #24 team would re-brand as the #9 team as Chase would honor the number that his father made famous. Hendrick's long-standing #5 team would then re-brand as the #24 team for rookie William Byron. 

Byron would go winless in his first 2 seasons but would finally break the 4-year winless streak for the legendary 24 car. August 29, 2020, at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Byron would score his first career Cup Series victory and the first time the 24 would win with a name on the rail that wasn't "Gordon".

Byron would go on to score his second career win in 2021 and finally, in 2022, Byron would become a multi-time winner in a single season winning two more times. Those 4 wins would bring that total to 97.

Byron would continue his winning ways in 2023 with 2 back-to-back wins early in the season (99). May 14th, William would make the #24 only the 5th number to roll into the triple digits by winning the Goodyear 400 at Darlington. What made that even more special was his throwback to Gordon's 1998 50th NASCAR Anniversary scheme.

​By: Tom Luttermoser

Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham after Gordon’s first career win at Charlotte 1994