Young Gun Looking forward to solid future with team
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 15, 2010) – Trevor Bayne will take part in just his third race for Roush Fenway Racing in tonight’s Camping World 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bayne battled to an 11th-place start last weekend at California and has shown great promise in his first two outings with the team, despite little to no preparation time.
“I knew there would be a learning curve as we get used to the team,” said Bayne. “But I’m excited about this weekend. We had a test session on Wednesday and its really the first time that we’ve had time to work together as a team and hopefully get the car set up how we need it for me.”
Still, Bayne his happy to be settling in as the 45th driver to take the wheel in a NASCAR race for Roush Fenway.
“I’m already feeling at home in this organization and that’s important; to have a long term commitment from someone is one thing, but to feel like you belong there is another. I have both of those right now and that’s awesome.
“It’s really cool to be a part of an organization that already has a history like Roush Fenway,” said Bayne. “I know that winning is part of their blood. It is something that they know how to do. Hopefully, we can add to those wins totals very soon.”
Prior to joining Roush Fenway, the 19-year old sensation started all 28 races in the Nationwide Series this season, running to 10 top-10 finishes and five top fives. After getting acclimated in the series, Bayne totaled three poles, nine top 10s and five top fives in his last 14 Nationwide starts, and he came to Roush Fenway ranked seventh in the Nationwide Series standings.
Bayne also acknowledged that he looks forward to working for iconic team owner Jack Roush.
“Jack is awesome,” said Bayne. “I have never known an owner to be so involved; and involved is the key word there. He is just in it. I’ve seen him at the shop three times now and I’ve only been a part of the deal for about a week. It’s pretty incredible to see someone like that, who is as accomplished as Jack is. He doesn’t have to be there, but that is just where his heart is. He’s a racer and he wants to be there. That is very impressive to me.”
Bayne understands the acclimation process from one team to another is not an easy task, but he feels the challenge will be well worth the effort. For the moment, he is busy looking forward to what he feels will be a bright future with his new team.
“You have to spend a lot of time with it. It’s just like any relationship outside of racing – it takes time. I’ve been at the shop everyday so far, just trying to get to know the guys and hanging out. It is just as important to do that away from the track as it is at the track. I think everything is going really well right now as far as chemistry with the guys. As far as the cars go, that will take time. But the chemistry off the track, will affect the cars on the track. Once we know what I’m looking for in the race cars that part will turn around also.”
As Bayne becomes more familiar with his new team, he is also starting to make his second and third trips to many of the circuit’s tracks, which should lead to even improved results.
“Having been there before, that makes a huge difference. When we unload in practice I know where the car has to be good at and I know how the track changes as the race goes on for adjustments and that is just a big difference. After going there a couple of times you just start to learn those things and it becomes second nature. I’ve started to figure out some of the big tracks and I’m starting to look forward to going back to them.”
Bayne will compete in his second race at Charlotte tonight. He qualified second and started on the outside of the front row here in the spring; while finishing 17th.
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating eight motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and five in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Colin Braun, Brian Ickler, Paul Menard, Erik Darnell and Trevor Bayne. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.
