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.
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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.”
