William Byron is used to winning races with 15 NASCAR Cup Series wins under his belt, but this time, the company at his side during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 turned heads as much as his victory on the track.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver previously dated Ryan Blaney’s sister Erin, but was spotted with a new woman before the most recent race. NASCAR’s official pre-race hype video captured Byron during the national anthem, standing with his hat over his chest next to a woman in a red dress wearing a credential.
What was intended as a routine promo clip quickly became the subject of fan speculation when viewers latched onto her resemblance to pop star Sabrina Carpenter. The resemblance was noted after altered images falsely linked Byron and Carpenter earlier this year.
Byron dismissed the speculation then, joking that he might invite Carpenter to a race or attend one of her shows, but he confirmed that they were not in a relationship.
Carpenter’s breakup with actor Barry Keoghan only increased the rumors, but both sources and Byron stated it was nothing more than a joke.
The whispers come less than a year after Byron seemingly quietly split from Erin Blaney, sister of fellow Cup Series star Ryan Blaney. Erin worked closely with the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation from 2019 until mid-2024, serving as Executive Director and helping raise funds for brain injury research and awareness.
She later shifted her career to Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina, focusing on community development. Erin graduated from the University of Alabama and has continued to volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, coordinating annual fundraising events.
She reportedly unfollowed Byron on social media in spring 2024, when their relationship ended, and at the same time, she left his organization.
DON’T MISS
Byron recently clinched NASCAR’s regular-season points championship, securing the achievement before the final regular season race at Daytona.
His victory at Daytona in the season-opening Daytona 500 secured his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs immediately, and he’s currently second in the standings and well ahead of the first cutoff line entering the post season.
The NASCAR Playoffs’ Round of 16, also known as the first round, begins at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500. Fans will closely watch who is racing alongside Byron during the event.