William Byron '16: Alumnus of the Year

And Back-to-Back Daytona 500 Titles

William Byron ’16 has solidified his place among NASCAR’s elite, winning back-to-back Daytona 500 titles in 2024 and 2025. A NASCAR Cup Series driver for Hendrick Motorsports, he has ascended the professional ranks of auto racing more rapidly than anyone in recent history. He is in his sixth full season in NASCAR’s premier series and since entering NASCAR’s top three series, William has lived up to the huge expectations that come with taking over the iconic No. 24 for Hendrick Motorsports. His ability to perform on the big stage at a young age has made him one of NASCAR’s most popular rising stars.

While in Lower School at Country Day, William began following NASCAR and begged his father to take him to his first race at Martinsville Speedway in 2006. He soon became a regular on iRacing, an online racing simulator used by many professional drivers, and developed into a student of the sport. By his senior year, William was finding success in real cars having won NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East as a rookie, managing classes at both Country Day and Liberty University (his first sponsor), and signing on to drive first for Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck team, then for Hendrick Motor Sports.

William went on to win the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. The following year, he was named the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year. In 2022, he solidified his status as one of the sport’s top elite drivers, winning twice and becoming a Champion 4 contender. He had another victory at Circuit of the Americas, becoming the first repeat Cup Series winner for three consecutive seasons. His dominance continues today with victories in both the iconic 2024 and 2025 Daytona 500.

Off the racetrack, William is passionate about his family and friends, his faith, and giving back to his community. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, received the Good Scout Award and has raised over $1,000,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas with his annual charity golf tournament, a cause dear to his heart from his days as a Country Day student mentor. William remains connected to his Country Day family by annually supporting Bucs Together Days of Giving, attending events, and connecting with his former teachers and coaches.

He humbly accepted the Alumnus of the Year Award at the Honorary Alumni Association event in February, where he thanked the Country Day community for instilling in him his work ethic, drive, values, and the importance of community. Tim Moxley, his former JV football coach, shared, “William embodies everything that Country Day is. He works incredibly hard; he is an incredibly likable person, generous, and genuine. I think he would have excelled at whatever he chose to do.”

Marshall Carlson ’92, president of Hendrick Companies, added, “He is only seven years into the Cup Series. He is the hardest-working driver I’ve ever been around in my career.”