Surprise Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne, is so new to the Sprint Cup level that even his website is under construction.
Yet it’s no surprise that on Sunday his career started building with a strong foundation.
Some of the highest praise for the driver who turned 20 on Saturday came from Carl Edwards a championship contender and a tough customer on the race track.
"Seems like he just has massive talent," said Edwards, who raced against Bayne, then in the Nationwide series last year…
"He hasn't done anything dumb. That's hard for us drivers sometimes. He's done a really good job of keeping his composure. He just hasn't made any mistakes … He drives like a veteran,” Edward said.
Donnie Wingo, his Harry Hyde-like veteran crew chief, who has coached Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya to victory lane explained “I just think he adapts so well to certain situations. Just the racing part of it, he catches onto the racing part and don't put his-self in a bad position. That's the sign of a good racer.”
His career has risen like an elevator, which has made, virtually, no stops on the way to the penthouse. At 17 years old, Bayne had a developmental deal with DEI but that fell through.
He found some more backing and drove for Michael Waltrip Racing and Bechtel Racing but when that ended Jack Roush signed him to a Nationwide team late last year.
“I never ran late models. I ran like ten Legends races, and one Bandolero race, but I ran Legacy cars, Hooter Pro Cup, Camping World, straight to Nationwide. So, I think it's just been really cool to see how fast it's progressed,” Bayne said.
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| Photo: Nigel Kinrade Autostock |
Yet it’s no surprise that on Sunday his career started building with a strong foundation.
Some of the highest praise for the driver who turned 20 on Saturday came from Carl Edwards a championship contender and a tough customer on the race track.
"Seems like he just has massive talent," said Edwards, who raced against Bayne, then in the Nationwide series last year…
"He hasn't done anything dumb. That's hard for us drivers sometimes. He's done a really good job of keeping his composure. He just hasn't made any mistakes … He drives like a veteran,” Edward said.
Donnie Wingo, his Harry Hyde-like veteran crew chief, who has coached Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya to victory lane explained “I just think he adapts so well to certain situations. Just the racing part of it, he catches onto the racing part and don't put his-self in a bad position. That's the sign of a good racer.”
His career has risen like an elevator, which has made, virtually, no stops on the way to the penthouse. At 17 years old, Bayne had a developmental deal with DEI but that fell through.
He found some more backing and drove for Michael Waltrip Racing and Bechtel Racing but when that ended Jack Roush signed him to a Nationwide team late last year.
“I never ran late models. I ran like ten Legends races, and one Bandolero race, but I ran Legacy cars, Hooter Pro Cup, Camping World, straight to Nationwide. So, I think it's just been really cool to see how fast it's progressed,” Bayne said.
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| Photo: Nigel Kinrade Autostock |