The William Byron diet after his Daytona 500 victory includes a chocolate chip waffle and less social media. NEW YORK — William Byron openly acknowledges that his late-night celebration following the Daytona 500 wasn’t the healthiest choice, culminating in a visit to Waffle House at 4 a.m. on Monday.
“Chocolate chip waffle,” Byron remarked. “I’m not very healthy. … But it was good. Did the job.”
While Byron may have been playful about his eating habits, the reality is that winning the Daytona 500 comes with its own set of challenges. His schedule is packed with media obligations, including appearances in Florida, WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” in Charlotte, and a series of interviews in New York City. This whirlwind week leaves Byron with little control over his routine.
“I haven’t eaten as much as I probably should,” Byron said on Tuesday, standing on the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. “There’s been a few beverages in there for sure. I’ve had some [vitamin] gummies and stuff, that’s about it. … I’m sure I’m still a little bit light because I haven’t eaten a lot.”
“It’s not too bad. I got a bunch of sleep last night, so that was great. Last year, we had to come right here [to NYC after a Monday race], so to be able to get to rest last night was definitely much needed.”
The Daytona 500 victory tour disrupts Byron’s normal training and race preparation, a common challenge for drivers who achieve this prestigious win. He mentioned that he was offered a fast food breakfast biscuit to munch on between Zoom calls with various media outlets.
Fortunately for Byron, his travel schedule isn’t as demanding as that of some past champions. With the upcoming race in Atlanta, he avoids lengthy trips to the West Coast. His primary concern is ensuring he is fit for the physically demanding road-course race at Circuit of the Americas on March 2.
“I feel like I’m relatively healthy,” Byron stated. “I haven’t been able to work out or anything, but it’s early in the week, and Atlanta is not a super physical track.”
“I should be able to get through that and get ready for COTA — COTA is going to be a tough race for sure.”
After spending Sunday night in Daytona, Byron and his team returned home late Monday morning. His crew chief, Rudy Fugle, accompanied him to “Raw,” but their key discussions about the Atlanta race will likely happen later in the week.
In addition to his limited food intake, Byron has also reduced his time on social media, consciously avoiding any discussions or debates surrounding his victory. He was in seventh place on the final lap when the leaders crashed, allowing him to slip by and secure the win.
“I haven’t looked at any social media,” Byron shared. “I feel like that’s the best way to go about things sometimes and I’ve just been so busy. … I was in shock after the race, but now, looking back at it and living it, it feels really good.”
However, one topic has caught Byron’s attention.
“There’s conspiracies that I hit the wall on purpose on my burnout,” Byron remarked. “I’m just really clumsy.”
