Just a week after locking the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship, William Byron has another occasion to celebrate, it seems. Yes, the buzz around him being the cover athlete is real, as his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet is front and center on the game. “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,” Byron said.

The official unveiling took place in the Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday afternoon, right before the Cup Series regular season finale. And that’s all the noise off the track. On the track, Byron has been one of the most consistent drivers this season, and his 13 top-ten finishes across 26 events vouch for that. While many athletes in similar situations have felt the weight of expectations or even superstition, Byron has shown little interest in letting outside perceptions shape his mindset. And with the playoffs ready to kick off, that is where his attention lies.

William Byron carries visibility without added burden

William Byron stepping onto the cover of NASCAR 25 arrives at a critical moment for the franchise. The series had suffered from fan frustration over rough gaming experiences in prior years, and Byron himself acknowledged the importance of this edition rebooting that connection: “We’ve needed a game for a few years… it kinda went through a rough patch… hopefully this game is that, you know, where people buy it and play it a lot more.”

iRacing is developing the next NASCAR console racing game, namely, NASCAR 25, which is slated for an October 14 release. It would facilitate the gamers with the experience of racing superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol, and everything in between across the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. To provide fans with the ultimate racing experience, a variety of racing modes, including online multiplayer and a robust career mode, would be made available.

Moving on, this digital spotlight coincides with Byron’s real-life chase for his first Cup Series championship, a feat demanding unwavering focus. Addressing whether being the cover star adds to his burden, Byron dismissed the notion of superstition or curse, saying it wasn’t something on his mind: “I don’t know… I mean, that’s like a curse… but I didn’t really think about that… maybe that would be perfect, if I could carry that through.”

His perspective highlights confidence in his ability to separate external recognition from the intense pressure of playoff racing. Byron’s 2025 season backs up that confidence with results. He ranks second in the Cup standings with 2,032 points, having secured two wins, including a landmark second consecutive Daytona 500 victory, while logging 9 top-fives. His average finishing position sits at a strong 13.9, reflecting a consistency that has carried him deep into the playoff hunt. Furthermore, his 915 laps led demonstrate his competitive presence in race control, while only three DNFs underscore his reliability in challenging circumstances.

These numbers paint a clear picture: Byron has not allowed external attention or the gaming spotlight to detract from his on-track execution. Instead, he views his role with NASCAR 25 as a symbol of the sport’s resurgence in the digital arena, all while maintaining the steady racecraft required to keep championship hopes alive.

While that’s that, let’s learn more about the NASCAR 25 game cover.

William Byron and fellow racers on the NASCAR 25 game cover

The reveal of NASCAR 25 turned into a milestone moment for Ryan Blaney and his fellow Cup Series stars. Blaney’s excitement at appearing on the game’s cover symbolized a deeper truth: drivers who once spent countless hours racing virtually are now at the center of the very franchise that inspired them. Blaney reflected this sentiment, saying, “Mom, I made it on the cover of a video game.” He shared his personal connection by admitting, “I was pretty serious on the racing games as a kid… those are iconic.”

Christopher Bell expressed similar excitement, marveling at being immortalized on the cover. He recalled, “I would sit all night playing that game… realizing it was all actual data and physics. It wasn’t just a video game.” Bell’s reflection underscored how modern simulation games like iRacing blur the line between recreation and real preparation, sharpening racing instincts early on.

William Byron added another layer of nostalgia, acknowledging how his career path famously blossomed from online sim racing. He said, “It feels full circle… growing up racing and on video games primarily… obviously everyone knows that about my story.” Byron described the announcement as a personal payoff, showing how a childhood passion for gaming translated into a real-world racing career.

Beyond personal pride, these reactions point to a pivotal shift in motorsports culture, where racing video games have evolved from peripheral entertainment into a central training ground for rising stars. Gaming now acts both as an entry point for fans and a practical preparation tool for professionals.

By aligning the release with the playoff excitement, NASCAR aims to integrate the gaming experience into the broader championship conversation, sustaining fan engagement across platforms and connecting virtual racing with the real sport’s energy and star power.