Many motorsports fans know about or have heard of the professional gamer-turned-racing driver, Jann Mardenborough. Now, thanks to the 2023 movie Gran Turismo, many more people have become aware of him. He has since inspired many others to follow a similar path and set a precedent. Among them is current Hendrick Motorsports star and 2023 Cup championship contender, William Byron.

The conventional path to an elite motorsports series typically involves drivers starting their careers at a young age. Normally, everyone starts off at go-karts before gradually progressing to quarter midgets, and further up the ranks. However, there are less-treaded paths as well. And Mardenborough and Byron are proof that they are just as rewarding.

READ MORE: “Been Under the Radar” – William Byron Gets Well-Deserved Praise After Jeff Gordon-Esque Season From the Big Man Himself

Frankly, racing has evolved to a point where even competing online is another path to racing in real life. In a way, the COVID-19 pandemic that forcefully confined people to their homes was a blessing in disguise for some. It forced professional drivers to adapt and substitute virtual racing to satisfy their need for speed.

From sim racing to being the winningest driver of the 2023 Cup Series—The unique trajectory that William Byron followed

Apparently, William Byron’s interest in NASCAR was piqued when he watched his first race. He was just six years old. A couple of years later, he attended his first race as a spectator in Martinsville. As he entered his teenage, he picked up simulator racing on the iRacing platform, at it was a success story from the get-go. As per reports, the teenager racked up an astounding number of over 100 wins and 298 top-five finishes on the platform. The best part is that he managed to achieve all this by the tender age of 15 years—before he had even stepped into a physical race car.

By 2012, he was already entertaining thoughts of trying the real thing. Byron kick-started his physical racing career in the Legends car racing arena. In 2014, he got his big break after inking a deal with JR Motorsports in the late model series. Following one win, 11 Top 5s, and finishing 2nd in the championship, he moved to the K&N Pro Series East in 2015. The same year, he got gigs in the ARCA Series and even in the NASCAR Truck Series, which he continued through to 2016.

After a successful campaign in NASCAR’s trucks, he moved up to the Xfinity Series in 2017. He enjoyed another great season, with a title win in his rookie season before earning a promotion to the Cup Series. As fate would have it, Rick Hendrick gave him the steering of the #24 Chevy in 2018—the iconic number associated with current HMS Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon for 23 years.

Now, Byron has truly justified the honor and he is on the verge of winning a Cup Series championship. That is, unless he is not able to fend off the threat of teammate Kyle Larson, as well as Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney.

Jeff Gordon’s pupil talks about his journey from iRacing to NASCAR

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In a recent conversation with Fox Sports, Byron opened up about the role simulation racing has played in his career and how it has changed the NASCAR for the better. He said, “I think that I’m always the computer kid that everyone looks at, which I embrace. I feel like that’s my nature—I’m very data-driven, facts-driven, and I like to look at things in black and white. So I think data and simulation has always been that for me.

“And it’s nice that the sport is working in that direction. I feel like I have an advantage in that sense. I’ve noticed the sport really evolve and how much we use simulation. And I’m always going to have roots there. But I feel like personally, over the last three, four years of my career, I’ve really raced a lot across the country—a lot of short tracks. I feel really weathered. I’ve been in a lot of different situations. I think I’ve gotten both sides of the sim world and racing around short tracks around the country.”

Admittedly, the #24 driver will be aware that his path to NASCAR was not the same as many of his rivals. He moved from iRacing to late-model racing to NASCAR. Nevertheless, it has undoubtedly honed his skills on the race track and made him more than ready to tackle the most experienced and agile opponents. Interestingly, owing to his iRacing background, he is usually among the favorites to win the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series.

Can William Byron win the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series title?

The Hendrick Motorsports team is always considered a championship favorite. Furthermore, Kyle Larson is a former champion, while the other three drivers are on the hunt for their first title. William Byron has been in magical touch in 2023, with six wins under his belt, which is the most by any driver this year. However, he has never won at the Phoenix Raceway.

One thing is sure, Byron is serving as an inspiration for many iRacing enthusiasts. This is because they would all be glad that if they put in as much effort, they could eventually compete in NASCAR’s top tiers. After all, there is an age-old cliche that video game players are just a bunch of nerds playing make-believe games on their couches. People like Jann Mardenborough, William Byron, and even Tyler Reddick have practically shattered that myth.

Gran Turismo depicted a stigma where professional racing drivers resent gamers-turned-racers. Whether that is actually true or a cinematic license to crank up the movie’s drama is anyone’s guess. Besides, simulator work is extremely important for any racing driver. This is because it allows them to get a feel for any race track without stepping on the actual track. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr has waxed lyrical about the benefits of simulator racing, especially iRacing. However, there is scope for bias from his end because he is the platform’s executive director.

One of the benefits is that this practice saves millions of dollars for NASCAR, track promoters, builders, and others. In essence, all of the mentioned parties don’t have to spend massive amounts on physical trials. Owing to the data gathered on the simulator, this is practically a game changer in the NASCAR arena. Furthermore, the simulator also helps teach drivers different skills on the track, which could benefit them in real life.

WATCH THIS STORY: Jimmie Johnson Vs. Jeff Gordon: Hendrick Motorsports GOAT Debate Addressed by William Byron