William Byron’s latest win at the Iowa Corn 350 marked a remarkable achievement, making him the only driver to claim victories at Iowa Speedway in all three national NASCAR touring series. The 27-year-old credits his strong performance at this short track to extensive practice on the racing simulator iRacing, which helped him internalize the unique rhythm of the course.
How Virtual Racing Sharpened Byron’s Skills
Byron explained that during his youth, the timing of iRacing sessions aligned closely with his summer schedule, allowing him to spend significant time racing virtually on the same tracks.
“When I was a kid, the iRacing schedule would always line up with the race tracks in the summer, and that’s when I would have the most time to iRace,”
he said.
“So, I would race this track (Iowa) a ton on iRacing. I feel like that’s why it’s been a good track for me, because I have thousands of laps in my head of how the rhythm of this place goes.”
Despite changes such as repaving, Byron believes his early experience on the simulator at Iowa and Pocono—both some of NASCAR’s faster tracks—gave him a significant advantage.
“Even with repaves and everything, I feel like I just spent so much time as a 14-year-old, 13-year-old just racing on iRacing on Iowa and Pocono. Those are usually our fastest tracks,”
he noted.
Byron’s Iowa Victories Spanning Three NASCAR Series
Byron’s first victory at Iowa came in 2016, competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports, driving a Toyota. The following year, he won in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports behind the wheel of a Chevrolet. Recently, he added a Cup Series win at Iowa driving for Hendrick Motorsports, also in a Chevrolet. Notably, crew chief Rudy Fugle played a central role in guiding Byron during two of those victories—in the Truck and Cup Series.
Favorite Track and Early Racing Inspiration
Though his track record at Iowa is unmatched, Byron names Darlington Raceway as his favorite venue, attributing it to the personal connection and early racing passion it inspired. The Charlotte native shared,
“My family and I, we’d go to Myrtle Beach (S.C.) so I would drive by that track (every summer). So, that’s always held the most meaning to me personally.”
The Impact of Byron’s Achievements on NASCAR
William Byron’s success at Iowa Speedway demonstrates the evolving influence of virtual racing platforms on real-world driver performance. His dedication to iRacing as a training tool highlights how technology is reshaping driver preparation strategies. With a growing number of drivers embracing simulators, Byron’s story may inspire further integration of virtual practice in motorsports.
As Byron continues his career with Hendrick Motorsports, his impressive Iowa winning streak sets a high standard on a track that few have dominated across multiple series. His achievements reflect a blend of raw talent, innovative training, and strong team support, signaling ongoing success in upcoming NASCAR seasons.