NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron visits campus to cheer on Flames Football

William Byron, the 25-year-old Liberty University student and NASCAR Cup Series driver of the Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, visited the campus he has called his own to cheer on the Flames against Middle Tennessee State Tuesday night at Williams Stadium. The Flames edged the Blue Raiders in a 42-35 shootout.

Byron was recognized on the field at the end of the first quarter of the game, and fans cheered when it was announced that he has a chance to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Byron won a career-best five regular-season races and ranks second in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff point standings behind only HMS teammate Kyle Larson with three races to go.

Although Byron is in the midst of playoffs and the best season of his Cup Series career, he took time to greet students and take photos before the game and did a takeover of Liberty’s social media accounts, sharing videos of his visit. He also met with Flames Football players.

Byron is pursuing his B.S. in Strategic Communication through Liberty’s online program and once studied as a residential student. Liberty has sponsored Byron since 2014 and is the primary sponsor for the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for 13 of the 36 Cup Series races this season and 12 more in each successive season through 2026.

Competing in the Cup Series playoffs for the fifth season in a row after missing the cut but winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2018, Byron opened the 10-race Cup Series playoffs by finishing runner-up to Larson on Sept. 3 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. That is the same track where he had taken the No. 24 on its 100th trip to victory lane on May 14. He won his sixth race of 2023 and 10th of his Cup Series career in the Round of 12 opener at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 24 before posting back-to-back second-place showings at Talladega on Oct. 1 and Charlotte on Oct. 8. Byron finished seventh in Las Vegas on Oct. 15.

Liberty alumna Shannon Bream (’93), anchor of Fox News Sunday and a Fox News Channel Chief Legal Correspondent, was also in attendance at the game. Bream was honored as the Flames Club Member of the Game during the first quarter.