‘Unlike anything I’ve ever seen’ Former NASCAR driver praises William Byron’s ‘Gordon-like’ comeback performance at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – In the high-stakes pressure cooker of Martinsville Speedway, where the half-mile paperclip has broken dreams and forged legends for decades, William Byron delivered a performance that echoed through the annals of NASCAR history. On October 26, 2025, the 27-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver clawed his way from the brink of playoff elimination to secure a dominant victory in the Xfinity 500, clinching his third consecutive berth in the Championship 4. It was a drive so masterful, so reminiscent of the golden era under the No. 24 banner, that four-time champion Jeff Gordon – the man who once owned this track – could only marvel, calling it “unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

Byron entered the Round of 8 finale 36 points below the cutline, his season teetering after a string of misfortunes. A crash at Las Vegas in the previous round had left him scrambling, followed by a heartbreaking spin on the final lap at Talladega while running in the top five. Those setbacks, coupled with the weight of leading the regular-season points standings earlier in the year, tested the Charlotte native’s resolve like never before. “Things have a way of working out,” Byron said post-race, his voice hoarse with emotion as he addressed the roaring crowd from atop his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet. “God really tests your resilience a lot of times. We’ve been tested. Just unbelievable.”

From the drop of the green flag, Byron was on a mission. Starting from the pole after a blistering qualifying lap at 98.185 mph, he seized control early, leading 126 laps to claim Stage 1 victory and banking crucial playoff points. The afternoon wore on under a crisp Virginia sky, the 0.526-mile oval demanding precision in every corner as the field jockeyed for position. Byron’s crew chief, Rudy Fugle, dialed in adjustments during a free pit stop midway through, transforming the car from solid to untouchable. By the end of Stage 2, Byron had stretched his lead, winning the segment and padding his advantage to 20 bonus points.

But Martinsville, with its tight turns and relentless bumpers, is no place for complacency. As the final stage unfolded, Ryan Blaney – the defending series champion and winner of the previous two fall races here – mounted a ferocious charge. Starting 31st after a qualifying miscue, Blaney methodically carved through the pack, leading 177 laps and briefly wresting the top spot from Byron. The Team Penske driver, hungry for a third straight Championship 4 appearance, entered the final restart with momentum, entering high in Turn 1 to carry speed. Yet Byron, unflinching, dove low on the apron, his car hooked up like it was glued to the racing surface. He powered past Blaney on Lap 456, pulling away over the final 44 circuits to cross the stripe 0.717 seconds ahead.

“Thought I got a good restart,” Blaney admitted afterward, shaking his head in admiration. “Kind of entered up top, tried to carry speed, and he just motored right around me on the bottom. Pretty impressive.” Blaney’s runner-up finish was valiant but not enough; he fell just short of advancing, eliminated alongside Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell. Bell, who arrived 37 points above the line, watched helplessly from seventh as Byron’s triumph – and Kyle Larson’s fifth-place points haul – sealed his fate.

For Hendrick Motorsports, the victory was poetic. Martinsville holds sacred ground in the organization’s lore: It’s Rick Hendrick’s home track, the site of their first Cup win in 1986 when the team teetered on the edge of collapse, and a poignant reminder of the 2004 plane crash that claimed 10 lives en route to the race. Byron’s win marked the 30th for HMS at the venue and the eighth of the 2025 season, underscoring a resurgence that saw the team sweep the top three spots in the spring race here. Teammate Larson, advancing on points, joined Byron in the final four, setting up an intra-team showdown at Phoenix Raceway on November 9.

Enter Jeff Gordon, the vice chairman and spiritual godfather of the No. 24. Watching from the pits, the Hall of Famer – who owns nine Martinsville triumphs, including a record-tying seven from the pole – saw shades of his younger self in Byron’s poise. In a post-race interview with NASCAR, Gordon’s eyes lit up as he dissected the drive. “Unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice laced with genuine awe. “William had the race of his career today. He’s laser-focused right now – the effort, the prep, his relationship with Rudy and the team. That fire was burning, and nothing was going to hold him back.”

Gordon, who piloted the DuPont-sponsored Chevy to four titles between 1995 and 2001, knows the Martinsville magic intimately. His era defined dominance on short tracks, with an average finish of 6.7 across 47 starts. Byron, now in his eighth full-time Cup season, is scripting a similar narrative. This was his third win at the track, tying him for the active lead, and his first from the pole since Jimmie Johnson’s 2013 feat. “He’s insightful into where the team is,” Gordon continued, drawing direct parallels. “He drives the car and then says, ‘We can move forward if we tweak this.’ That’s Gordon-like – methodical, hungry, unbreakable.”

Byron’s journey to this moment has been one of quiet evolution. From his iRacing roots as a teen to back-to-back Daytona 500 triumphs in 2024 and 2025, he’s shed the “Wonder Boy” label for seasoned contender. Crashes and criticisms early in his career – including a heated on-track dust-up with Denny Hamlin – forged a thicker skin. Now, with 16 career victories, he’s the regular-season champ eyeing his first Cup title. “I’m just so proud,” Gordon added, reflecting on the handover of the No. 24 legacy. “It’s tough shoes to fill, but William’s making them his own.”

As the sun dipped below the Virginia hills, Byron climbed from his car, gloves still on, to a sea of cheering fans – many donning the rainbow hues of Gordon’s heyday. He watched his first NASCAR race here as a kid, just beyond the start-finish line, and now stood victorious in the very spot. The Championship 4 is set: Byron and Larson for Hendrick, joined by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Stewart-Haas’s Chase Briscoe, both sidelined by engine woes in this race but locked in via prior wins.

Phoenix awaits, a flat mile of redemption where Byron’s resilience will face its ultimate test. If Martinsville is any indication, the kid from Charlotte – channeling the spirit of the Rainbow Warrior – is just getting started. In a sport where comebacks define champions, Byron’s “Gordon-like” masterclass wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The No. 24 is back, and NASCAR is watching.