Tag: Trevor Bayne

Tony Stewart Edges Clint Bowyer for One, Two KHI Nationwide Punch at Daytona

[media-credit id=22 align=”alignright” width=”246″][/media-credit]In the third closest finish in Nationwide racing history at Daytona, Tony Stewart edged out Kevin Harvick Inc. teammate Clint Bowyer by .007 seconds to win the DRIVE4COPD 300.

This is Stewart’s 10th NASCAR Nationwide victory in 91 races and his sixth victory at Daytona International Speedway.

“Wow is the first thing,” Stewart said simply when asked about his win. “We got to the front pretty early and once we got to Clint (Bowyer), we knew we would be a pretty potent combination.”

“We knew it was going to be between the KHI cars and the Gibbs cars,” Stewart continued. “We were sacrificing the speed to get air in the grille. You didn’t really know which strategy was best”

“We had the caution and the flat tire,” Stewart said. “I didn’t realize we had as many cars a lap down, but that is what saved us.”

Clint Bowyer, behind the wheel of the No. 33 Rheem Heating Cooling Chevrolet, came up just short of accomplishing the victory. Bowyer, who posted his 10th top-10 finish at Daytona, started the race from the pole.

“A lot of work goes into these race cars for this place,” Bowyer said. “Hats off to these guys for sitting on the pole and I had a car capable of being up front and winning the race.”

“The race was a little bit slow,” Bowyer said. “But then I found my dancing partner and we were able to make some ground and have some fun with the No. 18 and the No. 20.”

Bowyer said that he was glad to see Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at the front in his Chevrolet and the two were able to work their way toward the front. Earnhardt, Jr. finished in the fourth position.

“What do you do?” Bowyer said, reliving the end of the race. “I tried to block and then all hell broke loose. Awesome ending and that’s the thing that’s so much fun about this place. No matter what the race is, the ending is always great.”

Bowyer also worked with JR Motorsports driver Danica Patrick during the race, at one point pushing her to the front. Patrick finished the race in her No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in the 14th position.

“Why not put her in the show?” Bowyer said of his push. “She did a good job today.”

One of the best finishes was for young driver Landon Cassill, piloting the No. 1 Phoenix Construction Chevy. Cassill managed to finish in the third position right behind both of the KHI teammates.

“It was just a crazy day,” Cassill said. “We didn’t draft at all in practice today, so it was a learn on the fly deal.”

“Towards the end there Tony got lined up behind me on the restart and pushed me through,” Cassill continued. “I just followed directions and when we had to swap with two to go, I was just glad to push him.”

“James Finch gave me this race as a gift pretty much for running his Cup car last year,” Cassill said. “I wouldn’t be here without James Finch. He got me back in the sport.”

NASCAR confirmed that Cassill is now the official points leader, by just two points over Reed Sorenson,in the Nationwide Series. Ironically, the driver shared that he does not even have a ride lined up for the next race of the season.

“I don’t have a ride next week, so I’m just going to bask in this for the next seven days,” Cassill said of his points lead. “But if I don’t get a ride, Reed (Sorenson) will be back in the lead.”

The potential points leader, Reed Sorenson, driver of the No. 32 Dollar General Chevy, scored a top five finish. Sorenson thought this was “pretty good”, especially since he was racing against so many Cup drivers.

“The 4 and the 1 came down and we had to check up,” Sorenson said of the last lap of his race. “That pretty much ended our run. We were coming and we were going to have a shot to at least finish second or third or fourth there.”

“This is my first time racing and it’s pretty much what I expected,” Sorenson said of the new racing style. “I guess we’re going to have to get used to it.”

Jason Leffler, Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Michael Waltrip, and Trevor Bayne rounded out the top ten for the DRIVE4COPD 300.

Unofficial Race Results

DRIVE4COPD 300, Daytona Int’l Speedway

February 19, 2011 – Race 1 of 34

Pos.	St.	No.	Driver	Make	Pts.	Bon.	Laps	Status
1	–	4	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	0	0	120	Running
2	–	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	0	0	120	Running
3	–	1	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	41	0	120	Running
4	–	5	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	0	0	120	Running
5	–	32	Reed Sorenson	Chevrolet	39	0	120	Running
6	–	30	Jason Leffler	Chevrolet	38	0	120	Running
7	–	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	0	0	120	Running
8	–	6	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Ford	36	0	120	Running
9	–	99	Michael Waltrip	Toyota	0	0	120	Running
10	–	16	Trevor Bayne	Ford	35	1	120	Running
11	–	38	Kasey Kahne	Chevrolet	0	0	120	Running
12	–	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	0	0	120	Running
13	–	19	Mike Bliss	Chevrolet	31	0	120	Running
14	–	7	Danica Patrick	Chevrolet	31	1	120	Running
15	–	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	29	0	120	Running
16	–	51	Jeremy Clements	Chevrolet	28	0	120	Running
17	–	52	Bobby Santos	Chevrolet	27	0	120	Running
18	–	15	Todd Bodine	Toyota	0	0	120	Running
19	–	88	Aric Almirola	Chevrolet	25	0	120	Running
20	–	66	Steve Wallace	Toyota	24	0	118	Running
21	–	5	David Starr	Chevrolet	0	0	118	Running
22	–	70	Shelby Howard	Chevrolet	22	0	118	Running
23	–	81	Donnie Neuenberger	Dodge	21	0	118	Running
24	–	141	Patrick Sheltra	Ford	20	0	118	Running
25	–	28	Derrike Cope	Chevrolet	19	0	118	Running
26	–	89	Morgan Shepherd	Chevrolet	18	0	117	Running
27	–	31	Justin Allgaier	Chevrolet	17	0	116	Running
28	–	9	Kenny Wallace	Toyota	16	0	115	Running
29	–	60	Carl Edwards	Ford	0	0	107	Running
30	–	22	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	0	0	105	Running
31	–	39	Josh Wise	Ford	13	0	103	Running
32	–	23	Robert Richardson Jr.	Dodge	12	0	103	In Pit
33	–	14	Eric McClure	Chevrolet	11	0	95	Running
34	–	11	Brian Scott	Toyota	10	0	70	In Pit
35	–	40	Scott Wimmer	Chevrolet	9	0	57	Out
36	–	12	Sam Hornish Jr.	Dodge	8	0	53	In Pit
37	–	1	Mike Wallace	Chevrolet	8	1	51	Running
38	–	2	Elliott Sadler	Chevrolet	6	0	45	Running
39	–	62	Michael Annett	Toyota	5	0	26	In Pit
40	–	44	Jeff Green	Chevrolet	4	0	18	In Pit
41	–	24	Kevin Lepage	Ford	3	0	12	In Pit
42	–	27	J.R. Fitzpatrick	Ford	2	0	10	In Pit
43	–	25	Kelly Bires	Ford	1	0	5	In Pit

February 19, 2011

Jeff Gordon Spotter Jeff Dickerson Is Home With Hendrick Motorsports

In the early part of the 2010 season, Jeff Dickerson was on the spotter’s stand for driver Kyle Busch, a former Hendrick Motorsport team member. But a change was made midway in the season and Dickerson returned home to HMS to spot for four-time champion Jeff Gordon.

[media-credit id=22 align=”alignright” width=”267″][/media-credit]Dickerson is most excited to be reunited with crew chief Alan Gustafson, Busch’s former crew chief while at Hendrick. Gustafson was part of the major crew chief swap at Hendrick Motorsports, moving from the pit box of Mark Martin to Jeff Gordon.

“Alan Gustafson is one of my true loves in that garage,” Dickerson said. “He is responsible for my success in this sport as much as anybody. So to be reunited with him and those guys, it’s kind of like going home.”

“It didn’t really take much to get re-acclimated with those guys because those relationships never really ended,” Dickerson continued. “That’s really just been a lot of fun.”

“Alan and I approach the race the same,” Dickerson said. “He taught me everything I know.”

As far as working with driver Jeff Gordon, Dickerson is feeling equally at home on the spotter’s stand.

“Everything’s been good,” Dickerson said. “I’m obviously excited as everybody to get a chance at that championship. But we have to close some races out.”

“Last year, we were so close to winning some races and we couldn’t close them out. Hopefully we can get that monkey off our back.”

Dickerson said that his transition to Gordon was made most easy by the driver himself.

“Jeff basically said for me to do my deal and he would figure it out,” Dickerson said. “When they came and got me Jeff was looking for something different so he has done a really good job adapting to me. He’s really made a nice soft landing for me.”

“Any feedback that he has for me is in real time,” Dickerson continued. “He is very open as far as feedback from me as far as what he needs to be doing. No one is worried about hurting anyone’s feelings. We’re just always trying to learn.”

As at home with Jeff Gordon that Dickerson feels, he is definitely not feeling comfortable quite yet with the style of racing that has presented itself so far at Daytona.

“We’re all still learning about this tandem racing,” Dickerson said. “I’m as curious as anybody how this is going to go with 43 of us out there. The cars on the race track are also still trying to figure that out.”

Dickerson is also trying to figure out just how to make the appropriate deals up on the spotters’ stand that will most benefit his driver and team.

“In the past, it was let’s make a deal, but you knew you were going to get screwed,” Dickerson said. “If it was one big pack, you could jump in and jump out and everything was great.”

“But now when you make a deal with someone, you sit in tandem and it’s a deal,” Dickerson continued. “Now you need somebody more than you needed them before.”

Dickerson described the spotters’ stand at Daytona as basically a “train wreck” given this new style of racing.

“You’re running around making deals with whoever the guy is that’s ahead or behind or who is lined up behind you,” Dickerson said. “We’re all running into each other just trying to adapt.”

Dickerson also predicted that the partnerships that are formed in the Daytona 500 will last throughout most of the race. This very situation occurred in Gordon’s duel, where he worked with young Trevor Bayne throughout, only to get caught up in a wreck at the end of the race.

“I think Trevor Bayne did a great job,” Dickerson said. “Can you only imagine being that old and having Jeff Gordon coming to you saying ‘Hey bud, we’re going to be working together today?’ It was just unfortunate that we all got caught up there in the end but he kept his poise.”

“It could have been David Pearson in the car,” Dickerson continued. “He looked beyond his years. There’s been a lot of great guys that have run that car and it looked like anyone of them was in there. He did a great job.”

“Jeff would have no problem working with him again.”

Unfortunately the two working together did not last during the final laps of the race. Both Bayne and Gordon wrecked, with Bayne finishing 19th and Gordon finishing in the 12th position.

“We were very fortunate to get through that with what we got,” Dickerson said. “We’re really lucky because we could have been in the same position that the 88 is having to start at the back. And that’s not what you want to do when you’re guaranteed a starting spot from the front row in this deal.”

When Sunday rolls around and the Daytona 500 gets underway, Dickerson said that what he will be most surprised about is if the cars can really run like they did in the duel races for 500 miles.

“I will be surprised if these guys can do this for 500 miles,” Dickerson said. “I am also curious to see how we are going to do that with 43 guys out there.”

“It’s going to be as intense and crazy as you’ve ever seen.”

Dickerson will get the opportunity to see just how intense the racing will be when he takes the spotter’s stand for America’s Super Bowl of racing.

Until then, he will continue to savor his homecoming with the No. 24 team and his Hendrick Motorsports family.

February 19, 2011
Jeff Burton Claims Second Duel Victory; Brian Keselowski Makes the Show

The second Gatorade Duel race was all about teamwork and brotherly love. Clint Bowyer pushed his Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton to the checkered flag and victory, while Brad Keselowski pushed his brother Brian into a place in the Daytona 500.

[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]”It’s a shame two cars can’t fit in here,” Burton said in Victory Lane. “Clint and I decided that we would find each other early and it worked out well. For us, this is a good start and being in Victory Lane means a great deal.”

“I learned a lot of things,” Bowyer said for his part, acknowledging the pusher role. “I don’t know if there will be another rule change. It was fun out there.”

While Bowyer and Burton were high fiving one another after taking the checkered flag, Brad Keselowski was leaning in to congratulate his brother Brian, newly announced Rookie of the Year candidate, who made the biggest race of his life.

“I owe my brother in a thousand ways,” Brian Keselowski said. “We wouldn’t have made it here without him.”

Keselowski, racing an old Ray Evernham car built in 2006, seemed almost in shock that he had raced his way in to the Daytona 500. “I owe everything to eveybody right now,” Keselowski said.

“I didn’t get to start driving until I was 18 years old,” Keselowski said. “But I had to do it all on my own. If I didn’t put it together, I wouldn’t be racing right now.”

Michael Waltrip, former Daytona 500 winner, also made it in on time, thanks to his third place finish. While he felt “blessed to be here,” Waltrip also admitted that he was really “tired”, particularly mentally after that challenging race.

“You wouldn’t believe how relieving it is to get in no matter how you get in,” Waltrip said.

Thanks to Waltrip’s finish, Travis Kvapil secured his place in the race on his time. This was his first time to really experience the two car tango in race conditions.

“Well it feels great,” Kvapil said about racing his way into the show. “Last year, we missed this race and we have worked really hard over the wintertime. It paid off for us and it’s great for our team.”

The second duel race had a record 22 lead changes and also had a few more cautions than the first race. One of the first drivers to get involved in a wreck was Joey Logano, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota.

“Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield,” Logano said. “Today I was the windshield. Wrong place, wrong time.”

Denny Hamlin also had a less than stellar day. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing had a tire go down and then was involved in a single car spin.

“I have to have a sense of humor I’ve learned this weekend,” Hamlin said. “What’s so crazy is the fact that we were spun out and three laps later we go from deal last to second or something like that.”

“This has been an amazing ride and hopefully our weekend is steadily improving,” Hamlin continued. “We finally did finish. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens from this day forward.”

One of the most heartbreaking wrecks occurred late in the race, when Trevor Bayne, who had been stellar all race long, tussled with Jeff Gordon, causing a multi-car accident. David Ragan was also a significant victim in this wreck as well.

“I really had a blast working with Trevor Bayne,” Gordon said. “He’s a good kid. He’s a heck of a race car driver.”

For his part, Bayne was thrilled to have been working with his boyhood hero, Jeff Gordon.

“Gordon and I worked awesome together and it was just down there at the end,” Bayne said. “I hate it for all these guys because we were doing awesome, but that’s part of it. That’s racing. We’ll get there.”

In addition to the two car tandem of Jeff Burton, winner, and runner up Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Busch and Brian Keselowski rounded out the top five finishers. Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jr. and Carl Edwards completed the top ten in the second Gatorade duel.

February 17, 2011
Trevor Bayne – The Best of Both Worlds

Trevor Bayne has a knack for turning adversity into opportunity.

Lack of sponsorship led to an abrupt release from Diamond Waltrip Racing in September of 2010. But just as quickly, Bayne found a new home with Roush Fenway Racing and his future has never looked brighter.

On Friday, January 20^th, Wood Brothers Racing announced that Trevor Bayne will drive the legendary No. 21 car during the 2011 season for a limited number of races in the Sprint Cup series. He’s currently scheduled to run the first five Cup races of the season and then selected races during the remainder of the season. The goal is at least 17 starts with the possibility of more.

[media-credit id=9 align=”alignleft” width=”100″][/media-credit]
C)NASCAR
I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Bayne a few times over the last couple of years and there are certain things I’ve come to expect. He’s always well-spoken and passionate; the perfect interview subject.

But this time was a little different.

This was Trevor Bayne in overdrive and the joy in his voice was unmistakable.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this,” he told me. “I’ve had to keep it bottled up for the last month or so while we’ve been working on it. I’ve been really pumped up and now I finally get to let it all out.

“I ran my first Cup race with them and now I’m going to get to continue with them this year. I think its awesome news.”

“They’re one of the longest standing NASCAR teams and then here I am, their youngest driver ever, so you get a little bit of both worlds.”

We talked about his first full season in the Nationwide Series and the experiences he’ll take with him as he begins the next stage in his career.

“I learned you have to be consistent. It doesn’t matter if you win every race or finish fifth or tenth. You have to be around at the end of every race. There’s no way you’re going to win a championship if you put your car in situations it shouldn’t be in.”

Another thing that sets Bayne apart from other young drivers is his ability to learn from not only the good, but the bad experiences, as well.

His unanticipated release from Diamond Waltrip Racing taught him a valuable lesson.

“Every time it seems like things are falling apart, another door opens and that’s the way it happened for me. I’m really fortunate to have these kinds of opportunities. It would be easy to point fingers or be upset about things and sometimes I feel like that. But for the most part, I try to look for that next opportunity and keep moving forward.”

Bayne is thrilled to be part of the Roush Fenway Racing team and his new alliance with Wood Brothers Racing is the icing on the cake.

His enthusiasm is infectious as he talks about his latest opportunity with the legendary team.

“You can go into their shop and almost see a piece of every bit of NASCAR since it started. It’s really cool to see that within one team. They’ve been around for everything and you can’t buy that kind of experience.”

While Bayne has been testing the No. 21 car, he’s spent his down time soaking up the atmosphere and listening to tales of the “good old days.”

“Since we’ve been down here in Daytona they’ve been telling me stories about what people used to do, just all kinds of crazy things that no one would even think about doing now or they’d be in NASCAR jail,” he joked. “It’s been really cool to hear the history.”

Bayne isn’t worried that he might be over-extending himself by running in both the Nationwide and Cup series. Instead he looks at it as opportunity for growth.

“I’m 19 years old, I’ve got all the energy in the world and I need to use it and get as much experience as I can. Obviously this is a much higher tension, more pressure situation than I’ve had in the past but I think it’s going to help me grow a lot faster, being in the seat that much.”

I asked Bayne about his plans for the future but for right now he’s happy living his dream and savoring each moment.

“I’m going to take things one step at a time. No matter how far you plan ahead, no matter how long a contract you have, no matter what anyone says, everything can change in the matter of a month or a week. I’ve learned to make the most of what I have while I have it. I think if we do that other opportunities will come and we’ll take those when they get here.”

Trevor Bayne is bursting with energy and loving every minute of his life. Add talent and determination to the equation and you have a recipe for success.

As we ended the interview, something Bayne said, struck a chord.

“When you look around the shop you can just tell there are a lot more stories to be written.”

I can’t help but picture future generations of drivers listening to stories of Trevor Bayne and how he wrote a new chapter in the legacy of Wood Brothers Racing.

January 24, 2011
Trevor Bayne – Working Smarter for Success

I had a chance to interview Trevor Bayne at Darlington Raceway on May 7^th to talk to him about his first season as a fulltime Nationwide Series regular.

As soon as we began talking, I was immediately impressed with the maturity and focus that this 19-year old possesses.

He had just finished qualifying and seemed pleased with his effort. Although Bayne felt he could have pushed a little harder, he explained his strategy.

It’s our first time here so it’s better to have a car in one piece and still have a potentially qualifying top ten than it is going for a top three.”

His plan seemed to work and he earned a ninth place starting position for the Royal Purple 200 race later that evening. He finished the race in 16^th place and advanced to the 11^th position in the Nationwide Series points standings.

I asked Bayne to grade his season to date and although he was reluctant to do so, he sounded encouraged by what they have been able to accomplish thus far.

“I think we’re on the right track,” he said. “We’re definitely going in the right direction.”

Bayne went on to describe this season as a learning process.

“Diamond Waltrip Racing has always given us the cars we need. We’ve finally figured out how to use that equipment the right way.”

“On top of that, the chemistry is getting better,” he said. “It just takes time to figure out how I need to relay information.”

From the outside looking in, there have been some inconsistent performances. But Bayne is quick to point out that for the most parts, their cars have been good.

“We’ve been fast almost every weekend.”

He points to two incidents at Daytona and Bristol when he was wrecked after contact with other competitors. Both accidents resulted in poor finishes for the 99 team.

Bayne has two goals for his season. The first one is to get the most out of what he calls a “top five team.” His second goal is to use the season as preparation for his future.

“We’d love to win but what this series is doing is preparing us for the Cup Series later on.”

Bayne is not alone in his belief that the 99 team is one to watch this year. Hershey Milk and Milkshakes joined him at Dover International Speedway as a new associate sponsor. They also donated $99 to the Autism Speaks Foundation for every lap Bayne completed in the race.

Bayne had jumped from 17^th to 11th in the Nationwide Series points standings in the last four weeks. He hoped to capitalize on that momentum going into Dover.

“At Darlington, we decided to go back to the basics,” Bayne explained.

“I focused on driving the race car and Jerry (Crew Chief Jerry Baxter) concentrated on making the adjustments. Our car was really strong during the race and we made adjustments to keep up with the track. We didn’t get the finish we deserved but we gained a lot of momentum and confidence for this weekend at Dover.”

Bayne had an outstanding run in Saturday’s Heluva Good 200 at Dover International Speedway. He started the race in the 23rd position but had worked his way into the top 10 with just under 100 laps to go. Bayne continued to move forward and got as high as fifth place with 50 laps remaining in the race.

Unfortunately, with just two laps to go, he got caught up in a nine car accident that began when Denny Hamlin got into the back of Clint Bowyer on a restart. The incident ended Bayne’s day and he finished the event in 29^th position. He is now 14th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship point standings.

After the end of the race Bayne was sent to a local hospital for X-rays on a bruised left foot. The results were negative. He is expected to resume his schedule and will be in Daytona on Tuesday and Wednesday to participate in the new car testing.

Even though he didn’t get the result he was hoping for, Bayne will continue to work towards his goal. He’s confident that God has a plan for him and is committed to doing his part to make it happen.

His strategy is simple.

“I think we can get there. All we have to do is work smarter, not harder.”

May 16, 2010
Angie’s Excellent Adventure at Darlington Raceway

I recently had the opportunity to cover the NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway as a member of the media. Below is a summary of my experience, slightly skewed for entertainment purposes.

My journey began with a trip to Darlington to pick up my media credentials to cover the upcoming Nationwide and Cup Series races. While I was there, I just had to stop by the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum.

As I stepped out of my car and looked at the faces adorning the front of the museum, I knew that I was in for a treat. Everywhere I looked, I saw a different piece of stock car racing history. Some things were immediately familiar like the number 43, trademark blue, 1967 Plymouth of Richard Petty.

And then there were the surprises.

Over to one side was a 1956 Ford convertible. This particular car won 22 races in a single year racing in the convertible series. One of my favorite parts of the museum was a glass case with an array of confiscated items taken off the competitors cars. I just had to laugh at the ingenuity of these drivers who used every advantage they could find to win…at least until they got caught. It seems like some things never change.

I also got to see the Dodge Hemi engine that powered Buck Baker’s car when he won the 1964 Southern 500. This same engine was outlawed for the 1965 season. The museum also houses Darrell Waltrip’s 1991 Chevy Lumina, which rolled eight times in the 1991 Pepsi 400. It’s still considered one of the worst crashes in stock car history.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. It may not be the biggest or fanciest racing museum out there, but it is well worth the $5.00 price of admission. Besides, bigger is not always better. This wonderful slice of NASCAR is a perfect complement to the Darlington Raceway.

Now that I’d had a little preview of Darlington, I could hardly wait for the racing to begin.

On Friday morning, I was at the racetrack by 9 a.m. and Nationwide Series practice had already begun. I found my seat at the media center and settled in for what would prove to be a wild ride. Press conferences were set to begin about 10:15 am so I took a little walk outside to take a look at the action out on the track while I waited.

As I stood there watching, I realized that I had a big grin on my face. I just couldn’t help myself. The pungent smell of exhaust fumes was like the sweet aroma of roses and the roar of the engines was music to my ears. Or maybe the gas fumes were making me delirious. All I know is that I couldn’t stop smiling.

The driver interviews soon began and I had to keep reminding myself that I was there as part of the media. I had to conduct myself with professionalism at all times. Today I was not a fan; I was a journalist.

Although I’d seen these drivers interviewed countless times, it gave me an entirely new perspective to see them in person. Their charisma and personalities came through so much more clearly. Everything was going smoothly until Jimmie Johnson’s press conference. He was patiently explaining how the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization was working to perfect their programs.

Perhaps he should have put more thought into the phrasing of his explanation as he summed it all up by saying, “So we are all kind of massaging our packages.” At this point, I’m biting my tongue to keep from laughing and berating myself for being childish. But then, I look around the room and see the same pained expressions on everyone’s faces as we’re all trying not to laugh out loud.

I’m not ashamed to admit that it was my favorite quote of the weekend.

Another highlight of the day was watching the qualifying runs. The media center was situated right in front of pit road and I was able to stand within a few feet of the cars as they waited their turn to qualify.

Earlier in the week, I had arranged to interview Trevor Bayne after he finished qualifying. I decided I’d walk over to pit road to watch him and was almost side swiped by someone driving a golf cart. Imagine my surprise when Kyle Busch jumped off the cart and ran over to climb into his race car.

It was time for my interview so I headed to Bayne’s hauler. I’d talked to him a couple of times over the phone but this would be my first time in person. We walked into his hauler and there were about six other guys in there, including a couple who were lying on the floor. They all continued to talk and go about their business as if I wasn’t there. Not the best setting for an interview, but interesting, to say the least.

I’m guessing they weren’t too impressed by this journalist but Bayne was completely focused and gave me his full attention as I asked my questions. I headed back to the media center just in time for the next press conference and then it was time for Cup qualifying.

Did I forget to mention, there’s a race tonight?

I won’t go into every detail. Just think of yourself as an insignificant piece of debris in the eye of a hurricane. You’re standing still while there’s a whirlwind of activity around you. You just have to hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

After a great Nationwide Series race, I submitted my race review, finally headed home and climbed into bed about 2:00 am.

Saturday got off to a little slower start and I arrived at the media center around 1:00 pm. I took a few notes in preparation for the Cup race and caught up on what I’d missed. I was amazed to learn that while I’d been sleeping, painters had been working all night re-painting the walls of the track.

I’d like to take a moment and say thanks to the folks at the media center. They kept us constantly updated with transcripts of all the press conferences, race results, points standings and more. If you had a question, chances are you already had the answer at your fingertips.

By this time, I was almost giddy with excitement. Thanks to a colleague from SpeedwayMedia.com, I was going to take a ride in the pace car. With Brett Bodine at the wheel, we took off in a Camaro for a couple of laps around the track. We only got up to about 122 mph on the straightaway, but what a thrill.

This was probably the highlight of my weekend and I was ready for more. My shouts of, “Do it again, do it again,” however, fell on deaf ears. Of course, I didn’t really shout out loud but the phrase was certainly bouncing around in my brain.

Still full of adrenalin, I decided to take a walk and do some more exploring before it was time for another press conference. It was another day full of everything NASCAR and I loved every minute of it.

It was getting close to race time and I decided to head for the Press Box located in the Sprint Tower. Overlooking the track above turn three, we had a panoramic view of the entire facility. After watching another exciting win by Denny Hamlin, it was time to file my last story. I caught a ride back to the media center where my car was parked and headed home.

I was exhausted. “The Lady in Black” had welcomed me with open arms and it was an experience that I will never forget.

In closing, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my “sponsors,” SpeedwayMedia.com, NASCAR, the staff of Darlington Raceway, Showtime and the city of Darlington.

May 11, 2010
Trevor Bayne: One Step Closer to his Dream

Trevor Bayne was born in Knoxville, TN and like many young boys played all kinds of sports including t-ball and football. His life took a different direction at the age of five when he began racing go-karts and discovered his true passion.

Since then, this talented eighteen-year old has accumulated 22 championships.

He spent eight years on the go-kart circuit and achieved three World Championships, 300 feature wins and 18 State and Track Championships combined.

The next stop was the Allison Legacy Race Series where at 13 years of age, Bayne became the youngest to win the Top Rookie award. In 2005, he became the series National Champion.

It was while racing in the Legacy Series that Trevor met Donnie Allison who would become one of his biggest supporters. Allison influenced Bayne both on and off the track.

“Donnie’s a great guy,” says Trevor. “He taught me a lot about momentum and really about how to treat people.”

Bayne’s first big break came in 2008 when Dale Earnhardt Inc. signed him to their driver development program. While there, he competed in the Camping World East Series, finishing fourth in the points standings at season’s end.

2009 started off with a bang as Trevor finished second in the Toyota All Star Showdown and won the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award. His season, however, came to an abrupt end when DEI experienced economic setbacks and Bayne lost his ride.

Just when things looked darkest, a chance encounter would bring Bayne, his second big break.

In February of this year, Trevor Bayne was introduced to Gary Bechtel and began a friendship that would change his life.

“We both share a passion for racing and became friends right from the start,” Bayne said.

Bechtel, former owner of Diamond Ridge Motorsports, worked with Michael Waltrip Racing and put together a deal for Trevor to race in the Nationwide Series in 2009. Trevor took full advantage of the opportunity.

“We put together a deal between MWR and Gary Bechtel to put me in the seat for 8 races. Well those 8 turned into 4 more races so we had 12 total.“

His Nationwide Series accomplishments include one pole, two top-10 and six top-15 finishes.

Trevor looks at 2009 as a success, saying, “We were able to prove ourselves in that amount of time.”

Obviously Gary Bechtel and Michael Waltrip agree with that assessment.

This month Bechtel and MWR announced the formation of Diamond- Waltrip Racing which will enter a full time Nationwide Series team in 2010 with Trevor Bayne as their driver.

“We had all the pieces, it was just a matter of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together,” Trevor said.

So far DWR has sponsorship for only nine races but Bechtel is committed to running a full schedule and giving Bayne the opportunity to compete for the championship.

“We expect him to be one of the frontrunners next year.”

However, Bechtel’s belief in Trevor doesn’t stop with the Nationwide Series. Bayne is also slated to run a minimum of seven Cup races in 2011 and an eventual full time Cup schedule by 2012.

Trevor is grateful for all the opportunities he’s been given and the promise that lies ahead.

But for now, he’s taking the advice of four time Sprint Cup Champ Jimmie Johnson who told him to “take it one step at a time, keep his head down and work hard.”

Trevor Bayne is living his dream and is passionate about his future.

“I can’t wait to get to Daytona next year to begin a race for the championship.”

December 2, 2009
The Future of NASCAR – Spotlight on Trevor Bayne

Trevor Bayne, one of NASCAR’s rising stars, began racing at the age of five. Since then, the 18-year-old rookie from Knoxville, TN, has earned 22 championships.

In eight years on the go-kart circuit, he amassed 3 World Championships, 300 feature wins and 18 State and Track Championships combined. From there, he entered the Allison Legacy Race Series and at 13 became the youngest top rookie in the series. During his two years in the series, Bayne had 14 wins, 19 poles and 30 top five finishes in only 41 starts. In 2005, he became the series National Champion.

One of Bayne’s grandfathers raced cars and the other raced boats so you might assume that he grew up surrounded by a family of racers who encouraged him to go in that direction. But, he explains that when he began racing, he wasn’t aware of the family connection.

“Well I don’t know if the family deal was really a big factor in that. My grandfather did race but that was before I was ever around and so that was kind of already washed away by the time I was growing up and knew what was going on. Once I got involved in racing then that’s when I realized that he used to race and that’s when the support factor came in from him and from my Dad because my Dad was around the racetrack with his Dad. So I had a lot of support.

“But that wasn’t the reason that pushed me into racing. Sometimes you see the Dads with the sons and they say Hey I’d like my son to race so this is the only option I’m going to give him. But I did everything, I played Tee Ball when I was little, I played football, I played quarterback for a little while. Then when I was five years old I started racing. And, you know, I had my options. It was like, ‘hey I want to be good at one of these things, now which one am I going do?’ And it was up to me. My Dad said ‘whatever you want to do, I’m going to support you.’

“So, I chose racing and it’s been on since then.”

It was while racing in the Legacy Series that Trevor met Donnie Allison. Allison proved to be one of Bayne’s biggest supporters and helped guide the young racer as he rose through the ranks.

“Somebody else that has really helped me out as a driver is Donnie Allison. I had the chance to work with him when I was 13 years old running the Allison Legacy Series. He actually helped crew chief alongside my Dad for the second season in the Allison Legacy cars when we won a National Championship. He’s taught me a lot about momentum and really about how to treat people.

“Donnie’s a great guy. He’s taught me a lot on and off the track.”

After the Legacy Series, Bayne transitioned to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division and at the age of 15 became the youngest in the series to win top rookie honors.

His big break came in 2008 when Dale Eanrhardt Inc. signed him to their driver development program. Bayne and Jeffrey Earnhardt became the first two drivers enrolled in the DEI driver development program. He began competing in the Camping World East series and got his first win at Thompson International Speedway in July 2008. By the end of the season, he had six top-fives, seven top-10s and finished fourth in the points standings.

In 2009, he started off the year by finishing second in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. This outstanding finish helped him capture the Sunoco Rookie of the Race honor. His season, however, came to an abrupt halt when he lost his ride with DEI due to economic concerns and lack of sponsorship. He found himself out of a ride for the first time in his career.

I asked Bayne what he considered to be the turning point in his career. It wasn’t the success that he had previously earned that drove him forward but the disappointment of losing his ride with DEI. It taught him what he needed to do to become successful in this sport. Instead of letting it discourage him, he used the experience to help propel him to the next level.

“At the last minute in December, going into the year thinking we were running a full time Nationwide Series this year, the deal was gone away. And I was put back on the ground trying to find a ride and most of the seats were already taken because it was so late in the game.

“So I spent half a season just trying to get my hands on anything I could drive. I ran a couple of races. I ran the Hooters Pro Cup race in Concord and we actually won that. And I ran the All-Star Showdown in January and finished second. And I ran a couple of other races.

“It’s devastating to see what can actually happen. You know, I was kind of put in a bubble growing up my whole life because everything went so smooth. We were always running good in races, and that just created more opportunity. And then, the economy, when that happened, it didn’t matter the amount of talent that you had, or the ability, because nobody could fund it at that point.

“It kind of brought me back down to earth and I realized that we needed to work on some other things too. We met with a lady named Danielle ( Danielle Randall-Bauer, President of Everest Marketing Group) in February at Daytona and we started talking to her about some sponsorship opportunities. She introduced us to Gary Bechtel (former owner of Diamond Ridge Motorsports) who became a great friend of ours.

“He turned around and started talking to MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). We’d already talked with MWR a couple of times and they said they had eight races available for the season that weren’t sold yet. We put together a deal between MWR and Gary Bechtel to put me in the seat for those eight races. Well those eight turned into four more races so we had 12 total. We were able to prove ourselves in that amount of time. It’s drawn a lot of opportunity and I’m really appreciative for that chance to show what we can do.

“I would say that’s been the biggest turning point, just being able to get back in a race car and show what we can do and help create that interest. It’s been pretty awesome.”

On September 11, Bayne competed in his first race at Richmond in the No. 11 car for CJM Racing, qualifying ninth and finishing in the seventh position. This impressive run has generated increased interest and will almost certainly result in more future opportunities for Bayne.

He’s hoping for a full time Nationwide ride with the possibility of some Cup experience as well. This desire is tempered with the awareness that he needs to take his time and gain all the experience he can along the way.

“I don’t want to go too fast either. I want to learn things as I go. You can always step up but you can’t really take that step down and then step back up. So when I move to the next level I want to make sure that I’m doing it at the right time and that I’m ready to go.”

Bayne’s father has been there for him every step of the way and has never missed a single lap that his son has run. This family support and his faith in a higher purpose have given Bayne a firm foundation on which to build his career.

“God’s got a plan for my life and he’s shown that. Every time that I’ve been in a tough spot, he’s always prevailed and pulled me through. I know that he has a plan for everything. And at the time it seemed like the worst thing in the world that could possibly happen, losing the deal at DEI. But now, the opportunities that have been created, it’s been amazing to me. To see the plan going into action that God has laid out for my life, it’s pretty awesome.”

His calm self assurance and media friendly good looks are reminiscent of Jeff Gordon. He also has the competitive edge of Kyle Busch, without the brashness. These qualities combine to make Trevor Bayne the perfect candidate for the future of NASCAR.

October 4, 2009