Kyle Larson, William Byron looking to lock up Daytona 500 front row for Hendrick Motorsports

Just a few months ago, Kyle Larson and William Byron were battling each other, as well as Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney, for a championship. Now, the Hendrick Motorsports teammates are ready to embark on another NASCAR season, starting with the Daytona 500.

In their careers, Larson and Byron have both won a pole award for the Daytona 500. They have also both been the second car on the front row. Last year, Larson lined up next to his teammate and pole winner Alex Bowman.

Hendrick Motorsports takes pride in how well they qualify at Daytona. Bowman alone has three pole awards and six straight front row starts for The Great American Race.

Both of these racers know how important it is to Mr. H and the organization to qualify well at the Daytona 500.

“I think the pressure is just to not mess it up, I guess,” Byron said in an interview with 5GOATs. “When your team puts that much effort in, just make sure you hit all your marks, and if you do get the pole throughout the week just make sure you do all the right things to get to Sunday, have a clean car, and have a shot at winning the race on Sunday.”

“For me, the 500 is, it’s fun because we’re here as Hendrick Motorsports and they’re always challenging for the pole here,” Larson added. “When you do get to win the pole, which thankfully we did a couple of years ago, it’s a great team victory in a way. … To reward them with that hard work and get to take a picture in Victory Lane here, and get a trophy. You don’t typically get a trophy for qualifying.”

Both drivers have a new Valvoline product to help their efforts.

Hendrick Motorsports and Valvoline

For years, Hendrick Motorsports and Valvoline have been synonymous. It is a product and brand that NASCAR fans recognize and appreciate. With all of the great paint schemes and work they do in the sport, they feel like an integral piece of racing culture.

These Hendrick drivers understand the history of the sponsor and are happy to rep their colors every year.

“Vavoline’s had a very important role in our sport, and a strong presence throughout NASCAR for a long time,” Larson said. “So, it’s definitely an honor for both of us to carry those colors the handful of events that we get to, and represent that brand.”

“I think it’s cool,” Byron agreed. “They’ve been around the sport for decades, and just growing up watching Mark Martin drive their car, and just a lot of cool schemes over the years. So, I think it’s special anytime you have them on your car you feel like it’s a true racing sponsorship that has a lot of history.”

This week, Valvoline has announced a new product, their Restore and Protect Motor Oil. Larson filled me in on what makes the new oil so great.

“Valvoline has come out with a new product,” Larson explained. “The Valvoline Restore & Protect and it’s really cool because it’s the first and only motor oil that returns pistons to factory clean by removing up to 100% of deposits. I know they’re proud of that and we as a team and engine shop are proud of that as well.”

With Valvoline Motor Oil and Hendrick engines, all four HMS drivers have a shot at the Daytona 500 pole award tonight.

Alex Bowman is the gatekeeper to Daytona 500 pole award

A little friendly competition between teammates never hurts. All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott have won the pole award for the Daytona 500 before. Mr. H expects to bring that trophy home one way or another on Wednesday night, especially with it being the 40th anniversary of HMS.

Qualifying and the Duels will have a little drama this year as 42 cars are entered for just 40 entries. Less than the other series running at Daytona this week, but it will provide an interesting wrinkle.

Larson likes having those teams in the field but wishes there were more entries.

“I wish there was more cars fighting to get into the show because I think that just adds to the storyline. It’s good that we have a handful of guys racing for that final couple spots and yeah I think that’s what makes the Duels somewhat exciting. I just hope that their cars are fast enough that they can race in the draft in the Duels.”

Byron talked about the competition between him and his teammates when it comes to the Daytona pole.

“I think there is [friendly competition at Hendrick], just trying to see who gets the pole and we all want to be the ones on the front row and [we’ll] see who has the best motor oil. So we’ll see,” Byron said, laughing at the end.

Alex “Front Row Bow” Bowman will be the main obstacle in Larson and Byron’s path. If it isn’t him, it might as well be one of them.

“He gets through the gears really good,” Larson said. “Whatever he’s got figured out he can do it a little bit better than us. I think one of the four of us will get it.”