2024 Daytona 500 winner William Byron received a prestigious honor on Friday: his handprint, footprint, and signature were enshrined in the Daytona 500 Champions Walk of Fame outside Daytona International Speedway. His square on the sidewalk sits alongside every Daytona 500 winner since 1996, including some of Byron’s childhood heroes.
The honor has been in the works since Byron made his impression in wet concrete immediately following his dramatic Daytona 500 win this February. A plaque with his name was emblazoned onto the square, and it was permanently installed on the sidewalk ahead of Friday’s unveiling. Byron was present to see it debuted, along with track president Frank Kelleher. Also present were hordes of Byron fans, eager to catch a glimpse of one of the crowning moments of the 26-year-old’s career.
Byron’s new plaque. ⓒ AskFlagler
“When you see the fans and their excitement for it, you kinda realize how big a deal it is,” Byron said on Friday. “It’s really special.”
Making the event more special is Byron’s proximity on the Walk of Fame to some of the drivers he grew up watching. A lifelong Hendrick Motorsports fan who now races the team’s #24 car, several Hendrick alumni are enshrined just feet away from this newest addition. Among them are Jeff Gordon (’97, ’99, and ’05 winner), Jimmie Johnson (’06 and ’13 winner), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (’04 and ’14 winner).
“Seeing all the different champions and seeing all different eras at Daytona is really cool,” Byron said. He’ll have the chance to defend his Daytona win on Saturday, when he competes in the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
