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Deep South Crane Blizzard Series Preview: Byron Goes From Virtual to Reality in Pursuit of Dreams

By Chuck Corder

Could William Byron be the future of stock-car racing?

He, of course, hopes so. With close ties to NASCAR superstars, a K&N Pro Series East championship already under his belt and now a Camping World Trucks Series rookie season in full swing, the 18-year-old driver certainly has a blossoming resume fitting of the next big thing.

But, perhaps, the question can be better framed by massaging it: Could William Byron’s story be the future of stock-car racing? The Charlotte (N.C.) Country Day School senior eschewed a traditional path that most young drivers follow.

Forever a fan of the sport since age 6, Byron was an “iRacer� before he hopped behind the wheel of an actual racecar. He competed on a computer against other racing enthusiasts, some of which include drivers, at iRacing.com.

“A lotta drivers and teams are starting to use it more as a tool,� Byron said of the online subscription-based simulation service. “It’s gaining more respect as a way to produce actual drivers. There’s still a lotta differences. You still have to have the instincts of a driver.�

Five Flags Speedway fans can judge for themselves Friday night when Byron brings the No. 9 Liberty University Super Late Model to Pensacola for the Universal Fabricators 125. Just like the trucks series, Kyle Busch Motorsports outfits Byron’s SLM program.

“I always loved racing, but my family was not really into racing, so I had no connections growing up,� Byron explained. “(iRacing) was chance for me to grow and learn. I’ve been able to adapt better than anyone expected. It’s certainly different not having the same experiences as the guys who started racing at 6 and 7 years old. Some of the things they take for granted, I’m still learning.�

The Deep South Crane Blizzard Series season opener, which runs in conjunction with the Southern Super Series, will be complemented Friday night by the Beef “O� Brady’s Pro Trucks (40 laps), The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen (25) and Butler U-Pull-It Bombers (20).

Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday with qualifying scheduled for 6:45 and racing slated for 8. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, military and students; $5 for children ages 6 to 11; and free for kids 5 and under.

“Honestly, we want a win really bad,� said Byron, who sits second in the Southern Super standings after two races. “Hopefully, we can get that done and get a head start on the Snowball (Derby).�

In his first Derby last December, Byron finished an impressive eighth.

Before he discovered iRacing, Byron was an avid fan of NASCAR. While other kids reeled off one of the customary big three — football, basketball or baseball —as their favorite sport, Byron always touted his love affair for racing.

In addition to watching as many televised races as he could, Byron and his family were lucky to attend about seven races each year. The Charlotte native traveled to iconic venues, such as Daytona, Darlington, Martinsville and Bristol.

“I played a lotta sports growing up, even playing football all the way to ninth grade,� Byron said. “But, my passion was racing. It’s what I love to do.�

But how does a gamer go from virtual to reality? The answer seems to be that Byron was the Real McCoy, blessed with God-given abilities.

All those hours online, racking up more than 100 wins and close to 300 top-five finishes, were no fluke. When Byron finally climbed into an actual car at 14, he went on a tear that ended with 33 Legends car victories and a national championship.

“The sensations were much more extreme,� Byron said, describing the biggest difference adjusting from the online to real worlds. “It was pretty amazing. The speed of it was way more intense than what I was expecting.�

If the kid felt a little unprepared by his new surroundings, the career trajectory he subsequently embarked on must have left him gobsmacked.

Just months after securing his Legends championship, Byron inked a deal with, arguably, NASCAR’s most coveted name: Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was signed to JR Motorsports late model program when a spot opened up in 2014.

“It was just big blessing,� Byron said. “It was quicker than I expected. I took it as an opportunity and a chance to prove myself.�

Around the same time, he had to hustle up sponsors. Byron made an instant connection with Liberty University. The private, non-profit Christian university in Lynchburg, Va., thought his online history fit perfectly with the school’s push for its online program.

“They hoped people would pursue jobs and their passions the same way I did,� Byron said.

Liberty stayed on as a title sponsor when Byron left JR Motorsports for HScott Motorsports during last year’s run to the K&N Pro Series East championship, which saw him won four times.

That was enough for KBM to bring Byron aboard last October. Earlier this month at Martinsville, Byron came home with his first career podium finish in just his fourth career truck race. Byron finished third to his boss, himself a one-time Derby champion, and runner-up John Hunter Nemechek, 2014 Derby champion.

“It’s pretty interesting now racing against guys who I used to look up to on TV,� Byron said. “It’s neat to have their respect.�

And why wouldn’t they? He’s certainly earned it. The gamer-turned-driver has proven he’s not trolling anybody. Spam, he is not.

“It was up to me if I could figure out if I could do this as a career,� Byron said. “We took it one step at a time. I could’ve just been average at it, and that would’ve been OK.

“But, it went like it did, and has opened up a whole new world of opportunities. Maybe, it’s hard sometimes for people to understand how it took off, but everything lined up perfectly for me to pursue racing.�

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