William Byron currently doubles as a NASCAR Cup Series driver and a team owner in the iRacing eNASCAR Coca-Cola Cup Series. He recently discussed his involvement with the virtual racing series.
Prior to the first race of the season, William Byron eSports made the announcement regarding sponsorship. For the 2020 season, Logitech Gaming came on board as the primary sponsor for the teams eNASCAR Cup entry. Sim seats is an associate sponsor on the number 25 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The car is driven by veteran iRacer Nick Ottinger who has no less than 14 victories in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola Series. Ottinger finished second in the season opener at the virtual Daytona International Speedway.
Needless to say, adding Logitech G as primary sponsor is huge in the world of virtual racing. Byron explains:
I think it’s really big and important. I’m really excited about that sponsorship and partnership, really a partnership with Logitech, because I always grew up racing with their equipment. Now to have them as a supporter of our team, it just really is cool because it brings it full circle.
After his runner-up finish at Daytona, William Byron eSports is perched atop the current owner’s point standings. The team’s other driver, John Gorlinsky, won the iRacing Clash and finished sixth in the Coca-Cola 250.
It was a controversial finish. Race winner Keegan Leahy dipped below the double-yellow line coming to the checkered flag. In the real world that would have brought a penalty, but iRacing doesn’t penalize drivers for ducking below the line on the final lap. Byron sees it as a good thing:
That’s always good. There’s controversy. That means people are covering the sport, covering whatever it is. It’s good that people are watching, actually care about what’s going on. My instincts would never tell me to do that because obviously there’s a rule in the racing that I do. I think hopefully there’s plenty of races we can win this year, and that one won’t come back to haunt us.
The next race in the eNASCAR iRacing Coca-Cola Series will take place at the virtual Auto Club Speedway on February 25.