As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs gear up toward the Phoenix finale, William Byron’s No. 24 team stands tall after a must-win Martinsville triumph. Crew chief Rudy Fugle has steered them into a spot in the Championship 4 for the third straight year. With Byron’s recent win flipping past near misses into momentum, the squad eyes their first title since 2021. And amidst all of this, Jeff Gordon, team vice chairman, has voiced high hopes for Hendrick’s duo, yet the pressure builds in this high-stakes showdown.

Fugle’s steady hand shines in Byron’s growth, from Truck Series rookie wins under his watch to six Cup victories in 2023 alone. Gordon, who piloted the same No. 24 to glory, sees echoes of his own grit in Byron’s laser-focused prep. But with teammate Kyle Larson also advancing, interna

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