Which college did William Byron go to? A look at NASCAR drivers’ educational backgrounds

William Byron has found much success in the Cup Series since he started piloting the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in 2018. The 26-year-old has an outstanding education history having attended Liberty University, a private university in Lynchburg, Virginia.

The university has sponsored the North Carolina native since he burst onto the NASCAR scene in the Truck Series in 2016. Let's take a look at Byron’s educational background and Liberty’s history of sponsoring the driver over the years.

The 2024 Daytona 500 winner began taking online classes at Liberty in 2016, the same year his rookie campaign in the Truck Series kicked off. He graduated from Charlotte Country Day School that same year and is pursuing a B.S. in Strategic Communication through Liberty’s Online Programs.

Byron won seven races in his rookie season in the Truck Series in 2016, with Liberty as the primary sponsor, earning Rookie of the Year honors at the end of the season.

Liberty’s sponsorship presence with Byron carried over into the Xfinity Series the following year. Byron became just the second rookie to capture the Xfinity Series title that year, driving for Jr. Motorsports, with his college as one of the main sponsors.

The next year, the 26-year-old got promoted to NASCAR's Premier level and Liberty followed the now-13-time Cup Series winner to the next level. In September 2020, Byron won his first Cup race at Daytona with Liberty on the hood.

Liberty University is the primary sponsor for Byron in 12 Cup races this season, including two playoff races. On the track, Byron is seeking his first Cup Series championship as he’s leading the standings amid the Round of 12 of the playoffs.

Other NASCAR drivers with college backgrounds

William Byron isn’t the only driver who’s pursued educational opportunities past a high school degree. Ryan Newman holds a B.S. in engineering from Purdue University, having graduated in 2001.

The late Alan Kulwicki, who won the 1992 Cup Series championship, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in mechanical engineering. Kulwicki's life was tragically cut short following an airplane crash in Tennessee in April 1993.

Paulie Harraka, a former driver in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series, graduated from Duke University. The New Jersey native is now an entrepreneur.

Byron also isn’t the only driver to have ever had a sponsorship presence of a university in the Cup Series. Ryan Blaney piloted the #21 Virginia Tech Ford in 2016 at Bristol. In 2013, Jamie McMurray won at Talladega with Auburn University serving as the primary sponsor, which ended up being the 2010 Daytona 500 winner’s final points-paying win of his career.