William Byron reveals how he and Rudy Fugle built a winning mindset for the NASCAR championship at Phoenix

William Byron has seen the highs and lows of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, but when it mattered most, the No. 24 driver delivered. His dominant win at Martinsville sealed his third straight Championship 4 appearance, setting up another shot at the sport’s biggest prize this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

For Byron and his crew chief, Rudy Fugle, Phoenix has become the ultimate measuring stick as the 1-mile oval now decides the championship. After 35 races, he will battle Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin for the title.

“Once Rudy and I got together and we could see a path towards racing for championships, we started to put emphasis on this place," Byron said via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Saturday. "And honestly, before we worked together at Hendrick, we were really good at Phoenix as well together.”

William Byron and Fugle's bond dates back to his breakout Truck Series campaign in 2016 with Kyle Busch Motorsports. That year, they combined to win seven races, but failed to make the Championship 4.

William Byron before the 2016 Truck Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Credits: Getty)

They reunited in 2021 at Hendrick Motorsports and the chemistry reignited instantly. Three years later, their consistency and communication have brought them back to the championship finale for the third straight season.

Still, Byron’s journey to Phoenix this year wasn’t easy. His playoff campaign was marred by misfortune after a crash at Las Vegas with Ty Dillon and a spin at Talladega that left him needing a win to stay alive. However, he rose to the occasion at Martinsville. Starting from pole, he won both stages and led 304 of 500 laps on his way to the victory.

William Byron’s regular season was defined by speed and consistency, but turning that pace into wins was a struggle at times. His Martinsville triumph was only his third victory of the year and his first since Iowa in August. Before that, his playoff average finish sat at 16.0 - the lowest among the Championship 4.

Still, momentum is back on his side, and the team’s deep understanding of Phoenix could make the difference on Sunday.

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“He has been extremely open-minded to learning this racetrack,” William Byron on growing at Phoenix under Rudy Fugle

William Byron during Championship Four media day at Phoenix Raceway (Credits: IMAGN)

William Byron may well be the most complete driver in the Cup Series this season. As the regular-season champion, he led the standings for months, reflecting the No. 24 team’s balance, adaptability, and speed. Even through the playoff dip, Byron and Rudy Fugle stayed locked in, determined to keep learning and evolving.

“I think we had to learn some new things about this racetrack,” Byron added. “He has been extremely open-minded to learning this racetrack with a Cup car versus a truck. I’ve never heard him talk about, ‘oh, the truck needed this.’ He hasn’t talked about that. It’s always been, ‘this is what we need to do with the Cup car.’ And that’s how I try to approach the racetrack as well.”

That open-mindedness has defined William Byron’s growth in the Next Gen era. He enters Phoenix with one win, three top-fives, and an average finish of 8.0 at the track. That level of consistency could be crucial in Sunday’s 312-lap finale.