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NASCAR Cup Series rookie, Charlotte native, Byron focused on progression

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte native William Byron, a 20-year-old rookie at NASCAR’s premier level, has accelerated through the ranks of the Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series.

Byron, a member of Hendrick Motorsports team, spoke with Channel 9 sports reporter Matt Harris about his rookie season.

Last year's Xfinity Series champion is now five races into his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career.

"The last couple weeks we've kind of picked up the momentum that I feel like we needed to get through this stretch of the season,” Byron said.

Byron is a sophomore at Liberty University and splits time working on his degree and preparing for races.

“I would say 75 percent of my studying is on the race car, 25 percent is for my classes at Liberty and they do a great job of allowing me to make sure I focus on my career but also try to continue my studies," Byron said.

Byron’s modifying plenty, but expectations aren't one of them.

"As much as I put on myself, I feel like that's the only expectations I have,” he said.

Byron has an expectation to win, but in time. For now, he is focusing on continued progress.

"I think the last couple weeks, we've shown some signs of that,” he said.

For the first time in his Cup Series career, Byron led for 15 laps in Phoenix during the Ticket Guardian 500.

Byron's worst finish this season is 27th, while his best finish is 12th.

"The more that continues and the more that we kind of start to run up front, it's gonna be a pretty good reward and I think we'll be able to contend for wins,” Byron said.

Until then, the proof is in the progress.

"Whether that's qualifying result or finish of the race or how we ran during the race, so hopefully that trajectory kind of still continues up,” Byron said.