The season’s winningest NASCAR Cup Series driver this far in 2024, William Byron was asked at Texas Motor Speedway about the difference in winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship now versus when Jimmie Johnson — who is competing for the second time in 2024 at Texas — was competing full-time from 2002-2020 and racked up seven season titles.

The championship formats changed multiple times during Johnson’s tenure while the 26-year old Byron has only known the elimination-style path used today.

“I think the playoff points are a good thing, but I don’t know any different,’’ said Byron, a three-race winner this season. “I think it’s just the format and the nature of it is very intense… very stressful.

“But I think that’s what you want in sports, really… to have something [that] really challenges everyone. So, I feel like the way it is brings out those dramatic moments. If I were a fan, that’s what I would like to see. As a competitor, you do have to take it with a grain of salt, knowing that really, it’s about Phoenix. So you’ve just got to prepare that way, know that’s the case and try to bring your best stuff then.’’