Trevor Bayne, up and coming driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, has Gary Bechtel to thank for his opportunity to race full-time next year in NASCAR's Nationwide Series.  Bechtel has reportedly bought the majority interest in Michael Waltrip's Nationwide team, putting Bayne in the seat of the no. 99 Toyota.

Bechtel and Bayne are scheduled to make the announcement on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway.  While Bechtel will be the majority owner of Bayne's team, Michael Waltrip Racing will continue to run the team out of his Cornelius, North Carolina race shop.

While Bechtel is no stranger to NASCAR racing, he has been out of the sport since selling his assets to Joe Gibbs Racing in 1998.  Previously, Bechtel had owned Diamond Ridge Motorsports, a team which won ten Nationwide races and competed in 129 Cup races from 1990 to 1998.

Bechtel has been Bayne's guardian angel, having met him early in the race season.  Bechtel was also responsible for getting the young driver his ride in the Nationwide Series this year.

Bayne, at just 18 years of age, has participated in 14 Nationwide races this season.  In his starts so far, Bayne has two top-ten and six top-15 finishes, with an 18.3 finishing average.  He has completed 95.4% of all of his laps raced to date.

Bayne is scheduled to run in this weekend's Nationwide race at Phoenix International Raceway.  This will be his final race of the 2009 season, as Scott Speed will be in the car for the final race at Homestead.

When asked if his 2009 season has been a success, Bayne said, "Considering I didn't even have a ride at the beginning of the 2009 season, I would have to say yes."

"I think I learned a lot this season.  I think the track time that I received this year will definitely translate into top-five finishes next season."

Bayne is racing chassis no. .047, which garnered him his first pole and top ten finish at O'Reilly Raceway Park in July.  Teammate David Reutimann also raced that same chassis for an eighth place finish a few weeks ago.

"There's a lot of room to pass and find a groove that your car handles well on," Bayne said of PIR.  "I hope I can end this season with a bang and carry the momentum into next season."

"Trevor is a special talent," Michael Waltrip said.   "Gary Bechtel recognized that and wanted to find a place for him to race.  I've done this long enough to see kids come and go and I know we will see Trevor racing in NASCAR for a long time to come."