 |
| Bayne is on the Nationwide pole |
Trevor Bayne has been around
awhile. Since 2009, the Knoxville, Tenn., native has amassed 111 starts in the
NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. Only once in that span has Bayne run a
complete season, however, taking part in all 35 Nationwide races in 2010 en route
to seventh place in the final season point standings. Even then, he was forced
to compete for two different teams, joining Roush Fenway Racing after a
late-season split with Michael Waltrip.
Throughout his big-time
NASCAR career, spotty sponsorship, health issues and other factors have limited
Bayne’s ability to compete. Even an upset win in the 2011 Daytona 500 failed to
earn him a full-time ride in the upper levels of NASCAR, a sobering fact that will be remedied next season.
With teammate Ricky
Stenhouse, Jr. slated to replace the departing Matt Kenseth in the No. 17 Ford next year, Roush Fenway Racing confirmed this week that Bayne will run for the 2013 Nationwide title in the No. 60 Mustang
currently wheeled by Stenhouse. While sponsorship is still being sought, Bayne
said the team has assured him of that full-time ride, in addition to another limited
schedule of events in the Wood Brothers Racing Sprint Cup Series Ford.
“They’ve told me that and it
sounds like it’s in concrete, but things can still change before the season
starts,” he said. “As of now, we’re going to run full-time Nationwide next
year.”
To that end, he admitted badgering
Roush for more Nationwide starts this season.
"This could be our last Nationwide race of the
season,” said Bayne. “I've been trying
to talk Jack into more (races), since he's wanting to run full-time next year,
for the championship with me in the car. I'd like to get my feet wet and get
some momentum going. I think that would be a good thing to do, just to get a
feel for the Nationwide cars again."
He reinforced that lobbying effort by winning the pole for tonight's Bristol Nationwide race.
You can't fault a guy for trying.
Photo: LAT Photographic
That is awesome news- very happy for Trevor - richly deserved. Thanks Dave.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Jack will bother with sponsorship for him this time?
ReplyDelete