Nobody actually knew who won. For a few agonizing seconds after the checkered flag waved under the lights of Daytona International Speedway, the world was stuck in a weird sort of limbo. It was messy. It was loud. It was exactly what you’d expect from the "Great American Race," but with a side of controversy that kept fans arguing on social media for days. When the dust finally settled and the scoring loops did their job, William Byron was officially named the Daytona 500 winner 2024, ending a nine-year drought for Hendrick Motorsports at this specific track.
Byron didn't just win a race; he survived a demolition derby.
The 2024 season opener was supposed to happen on Sunday, but Florida weather had other plans. Rain pushed the event to Monday, creating a frantic, high-energy atmosphere that felt different from the usual Sunday afternoon vibe. By the time they reached the final laps, the tension was thick enough to cut with a tire iron. Byron, driving the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet—the same number Jeff Gordon made legendary—found himself leading a pack of snarling engines as the white flag flew. Then, chaos.
The Big One and the White Flag Mystery
To understand why the Daytona 500 winner 2024 results felt so frantic, you have to look at the wreck that cleared the field. With just nine laps to go, a massive 23-car pileup triggered by contact between Alex Bowman and William Byron (yes, teammates) sent favorites like Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano spinning into the wall. It was a graveyard of carbon fiber and shredded rubber.
When the race restarted for the final sprint, Byron was positioned perfectly.
Here is the thing about Daytona: the leader is usually a sitting duck. But Byron had Alex Bowman tucked into his rear bumper, pushing him with everything that engine had. As they crossed the start-finish line to take the white flag, symbolizing the final lap, another wreck broke out behind them. Austin Cindroz and Ross Chastain got tangled up, sliding across the infield grass.
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NASCAR threw the caution flag.
This is where things get technical and, honestly, kinda frustrating for fans of the runners-up. Under NASCAR rules, the moment a caution is called on the final lap, the field is frozen. The winner is determined by the positions at the exact moment the yellow light flashes, not necessarily who crosses the finish line first while crashing. For a hot second, it looked like Bowman might have had his nose ahead. But the high-speed cameras and scoring loops proved that Byron was inches—literally inches—ahead when the lights went yellow.
He was the victor. It was his 11th career win, but obviously, the biggest one of his life.
Why This Win Mattered for Hendrick Motorsports
If you follow NASCAR, you know the name Rick Hendrick. His team is the gold standard, the New York Yankees of stock car racing. Yet, despite all their championships, they hadn't won the Daytona 500 since 2014 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. That’s a decade of "almosts" and "what-ifs."
Winning in 2024 was poetic.
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It was the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports’ first-ever start in the Cup Series, which happened at Daytona in 1984. Bringing the No. 24 back to Victory Lane on that specific anniversary is the kind of stuff scriptwriters dream up. Byron, who famously started his racing career on a computer simulator rather than a dirt track, proved he has the "real world" grit to handle the most prestigious race on the calendar.
People used to mock Byron for being a "computer kid." They don't do that anymore. He led only four laps the entire race, but he led the only one that paid the check.
The Controversy: Was Bowman Robbed?
You can’t talk about the Daytona 500 winner 2024 without mentioning the "what if" regarding Alex Bowman. Social media was flooded with grainy screenshots of the final lap. Depending on which frame you paused the video, it looked like Bowman’s No. 48 car was slightly ahead of Byron’s No. 24.
NASCAR’s explanation was pretty straightforward, though. They use a combination of GPS tracking and high-speed synced video to determine the exact moment the caution is triggered. At that microsecond, Byron had the advantage.
- The Velocity Factor: Byron was moving faster at the time of the caution.
- The Drafting Help: Cindric’s spin actually helped clear the lane for Byron.
- The Teammate Dynamic: Bowman didn't try to hang Byron out to dry; he stayed on his bumper, which ironically ensured Byron got the win instead of a competitor like Christopher Bell.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for Bowman fans, but that’s the nature of restrictor-plate racing. It’s a game of inches played at 200 mph.
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What This Means for Your 2025 Betting and Fantasy Strategy
If you're looking at the Daytona 500 winner 2024 as a predictor for future success, there are a few takeaways that aren't just fluff. First, the "Simulator Generation" is officially in charge. Byron’s ability to process data and understand the draft is top-tier.
Second, pay attention to the manufacturer alliances. The Chevrolets worked together with a level of discipline we haven't seen in years. Ford and Toyota were fast—Logano was a beast all week—but they couldn't stay organized when it mattered.
Third, the "Monday Effect" is real. When races get delayed, the track surface changes. The grip levels on a Monday afternoon are totally different than a Sunday night. Byron and his crew chief, Rudy Fugle, adjusted to the track temp better than anyone else.
Actionable Steps for NASCAR Fans
If you want to dive deeper into how Byron pulled this off or prepare for the next superspeedway race, stop looking at the highlights and start looking at the data.
- Watch the "In-Car" Audio: Go back and listen to the radio communication between Byron and Fugle during the final 10 laps. You’ll hear how they navigated the "Big One" and how they positioned the car to take advantage of Bowman’s push. It’s a masterclass in situational awareness.
- Analyze the Scoring Loops: If you're a data nerd, NASCAR often releases the loop data. You can see exactly where Byron was gaining time—it wasn't in the turns; it was his discipline in the tri-oval.
- Track the 40th Anniversary Momentum: Hendrick Motorsports used this win as a springboard. Keep an eye on Byron at other high-speed tracks like Talladega or the new Atlanta configuration; his confidence after Daytona is a tangible advantage.
- Evaluate the Next-Gen Car's Durability: The 2024 race showed that these cars can take a beating and keep rolling. Byron’s car had minor damage from the earlier wreck but still had the aerodynamic integrity to win. This means you shouldn't count a driver out just because they've been in a "fender bender" early in the race.
William Byron didn't just stumble into the winner's circle. He navigated a chaotic, rain-delayed, wreck-filled mess with the precision of the simulator pilot he used to be. Whether you think the caution flag was timed perfectly or not, the record books show Byron as the man who brought the No. 24 back to glory. It was a historic night for Hendrick, a heartbreaking one for the "could-have-beens," and a wild ride for everyone watching from the stands.