William Byron, fresh off securing the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship, has been named the cover athlete for the upcoming NASCAR 25 video game. The game, which will launch later this year, prominently features Byron and his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, marking the first NASCAR title developed by the iRacing platform.
The cover reveal took place at the Daytona International Speedway‘s Fan Zone on Saturday afternoon, right before the Cup Series regular season finale. This event gave fans a chance to see Byron’s likeness showcased, celebrating both his racing achievements and personal connection to gaming.
From Virtual Tracks to Real Racing Lights: Byron’s Journey
Byron’s path to success is closely tied to video games, a fact he openly reflects upon. His early experience with racing games helped shape the skills he now applies on real racetracks. This background resonates well with many modern drivers who also use simulation gaming to practice and prepare, especially as actual track time becomes increasingly limited.
Byron commented on this connection, saying,
“It just feels full circle. Growing up racing on video games primarily, obviously, everyone knows that about my story so, yeah, just a very full circle moment for me personally and great for our partners and everybody,”
and added,
“Excited for it. Hopefully the game is great. It feels good so far so hopefully everyone loves it and it’ll always be something I can look back on over the years and be excited about.”
The Growing Influence of Simulation Racing in Motorsports
The role of virtual racing has expanded significantly in recent years, and Byron highlights this evolution as a major factor in today’s racing environment. With advancements in technology such as virtual reality and esports platforms like iRacing, sim racing is becoming an integral part of driver development and fan engagement.
Byron noted,
“I think with the way tech has gone in the last decade it’s really kind of taken over – virtual reality, iRacing, esports, everything,”
and further explained,
“It’s become big in the racing world. I think the effects of it will be more long term, seeing how kids get their start, but I think there’s honestly a lot of it going already with people sim racing when they’re not racing in their cars.”
Future Announcements and Impact on Racing Culture
As anticipation builds for the NASCAR 25 game’s release, additional details are expected to be revealed in the upcoming weeks. The collaboration between iRacing and NASCAR, with William Byron as the face of the game, highlights a growing intersection between traditional motorsports and digital innovation.
This development signifies not only a milestone for Byron’s career but also reflects a broader shift in how drivers train and how fans experience racing. The presence of simulation gaming in the sport’s future promises new opportunities for emerging racers and enthusiasts alike, signaling continued growth in the digital realm of NASCAR.
