William Byron faces growing questions over his NASCAR Cup Series championship hopes after two respected analysts raised concerns about his recent form. With only four races left in the regular season, the Hendrick Motorsports driver remains on course to reach the NASCAR playoffs, but his performances have not matched those of a title contender.
Byron sits 12th in the points standings and holds an 88-point cushion above the playoff cutline ahead of the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. While reaching the postseason appears likely, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty believe the No. 24 team must improve quickly if it wants to challenge for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title. Their comments come after months of inconsistent results and a lack of race-winning speed.
William Byron’s NASCAR Playoff Hopes Under Pressure
William Byron has struggled to deliver the consistency expected of a championship contender in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Through 22 races, he has not won a race and has recorded four top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes. He has also suffered three DNFs and owns an average finish of about 15.8.
His recent form has added to the concern. Byron has managed only two top-five finishes in his last nine races, at Pocono and Chicagoland, while most of his other results have come outside the top 10. More importantly, he has not recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes since March.
Former crew chief and NASCAR analyst Steve Letarte said that statistic makes it difficult to view Byron as a serious championship threat.
“William Byron has not had back-to-back top 10s. Top 10s! Not top fives. Has not had back-to-back top 10 finishes since March. It’s hard to be considered a real contender when you can’t run in the front 25 percent of the field on a week-to-week basis.”
NASCAR Analysts Explain William Byron’s Biggest Problem
Kyle Petty believes William Byron’s biggest issue is not only speed but also the team’s inability to recover when problems arise during a race.
According to Petty, the No. 24 team often loses track position and never finds its way back to the front.
“When a misstep happens, they don’t have the speed or make the right calls or whatever it may be, to recover. They just disappear. They go from running 5th to running 4th to gaining on somebody to being oh f— how did they get to 13th and why are they running there?”
Petty also questioned Byron’s form earlier this week on social media.
“Where has William Byron gone? A preseason championship favorite has seemingly disappeared into the middle of the Chase standings. So, what does the No. 24 team need to do to get back on track heading into the Chase?”
Can William Byron Turn Around His NASCAR Playoff Campaign?
William Byron entered the 2026 season as one of the favorites to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship. He won the 2025 regular-season title, reached the Championship 4 for a third straight year, and successfully defended his Daytona 500 crown by winning the season opener in 2025.
However, analysts believe several factors have contributed to his difficult season. The redesigned Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 nose has reduced the usefulness of previous setup data, while frequent mid-pack qualifying has forced Byron to race in heavier traffic. Those factors have left the No. 24 team with little room for error.
Although teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott have also experienced inconsistent results, they are still expected to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs alongside Byron.
Making the playoffs alone will not be enough. Without race victories, bonus points, consistent top-10 finishes, and stronger recoveries during races, William Byron enters the postseason with major questions surrounding his championship chances. The final four races of the regular season will give him one last opportunity to prove the analysts wrong before the NASCAR playoffs begin.
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