by Mike Matzinger
William McComas Byron Jr., born November 29, 1997, in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a professional stock car driver who competes in the NASCAR Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports. His racing career began unconventionally through iRacing, where he accumulated hundreds of virtual wins before transitioning to real-world competition. At 15, Byron entered Legends car racing and quickly demonstrated his prowess by winning 33 races and capturing a national title. His ascent continued with the 2015 K&N Pro Series East Championship, a record-setting seven-win rookie campaign in the 2016 NASCAR Truck Series, and the 2017 Xfinity Series Championship. In 2018, he debuted in the Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Since then, he has become one of the sport’s top competitors, highlighted by consecutive Daytona 500 victories in 2024 and 2025. In August 2025, Byron clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship at Richmond Raceway, securing the title along with 15 bonus playoff points by holding a substantial points lead through 25 races.
Beyond his accomplishments on the track, Byron’s background in Scouting has played an influential role in his development. He joined Scouting at age 13 and earned the rank of Eagle Scout by 16, completing a service project that included building bookshelves for a retirement home. The program instilled discipline, perseverance, and leadership—qualities he has carried into his professional career. Byron has noted that balancing Scouting, school, and racing taught him time management and resilience, while leadership experiences within his troop prepared him for guiding his race team. His journey reflects both his racing talent and the character shaped by his years in Scouting, which continue to influence his success on and off the track. His biggest challenge in Scouting was camping – he was not a fan!