William Byron entered the 2025 NASCAR season riding high. The post William Byron’s Downfall – Rick Hendrick’s Superstar Falls Off His Mantle With Championship on the Line appeared first on EssentiallySports.

William Byron, the Hendrick Motorsports star, expressed frustration after a disappointing practice session for the NASCAR Cup Series race, Grant Park 165 on Saturday, July 5.

Denny Hamlin has been steady in recent weeks, and his fourth-place finish at Chicago is the latest evidence he's in a groove. William Byron isn't.

In NASCAR Cup Series practice at Chicago, things were looking promising for William Byron. He was faster than Shane van Gisbergen, setting the pace in the first practice group. He lapped the street circuit in 1:31.008s, over three tenths quicker than SVG.

Recently, the fastest man at the serpentine track has been another California native, Kyle Larson, who picked up his second victory at the venue last June. His resume includes five pole awards and his average starting position of 3.8 is tops among all drivers.

SportsLine's Steven Taranto reveals his picks and NASCAR props for 2025 Grant Park 165, where Shane Van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs are favorite