William Byron, 21, is the youngest driver on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series grid each week. But youth alone won’t help with the 100-plus temperatures expected in Las Vegas this weekend for the race. The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet said Saturday that he regularly trains in such extreme conditions. Additionally, Byron pointed out, the season is two-thirds complete, so he’s optimistic that he will be better prepared for the temperature variables.
“It’s gonna be super hot, roasting in the car and by the time the sun goes down it’ll be roasting,’’ Byron said of the anticipated Vegas conditions.
“But, it’s a lot tougher when we have a race in the spring and it’s hot because your body isn’t prepared for it.
“I train at this gym in Charlotte that has no AC, it’s all outside air. The other day it was 96 degrees and that’s all part of trying to become an athlete and doing the best I can. Sometimes it’s really hard because my trainer is really tough on me, but especially a race like this, I don’t worry about being ready for it, just have to drink and eat the right things.’’
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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