WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug.6, 2016) – Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 6 AdvoCare Ford Mustang, overcame a spin on Lap 29 to earn a fifth-place finish in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Watkins Glen International on Saturday afternoon.
“Today was fun,” said Bayne after the race. “I was able to learn a ton that can help us out tomorrow with our AdvoCare Fusion in the Cup series. It stinks we had that issue with the (No.) 22 through the Inner Loop but (crew chief) Drew (Blickensderfer) had a great strategy that helped us get back up front and earn a top-five. Hopefully we can take this result and get a solid run tomorrow and gain more points toward the Chase.”
Bayne took the green flag for his first NASCAR XFINITY Series start since the 2014 season finale from the seventh position after advancing to the second round of qualifying on Friday afternoon. Bayne maintained his track position inside the top 10 until a Lap 13 restart saw the driver of the AdvoCare Mustang make a three-wide move off the first corner and race into third.
The Knoxville, Tenn. native’s climb didn’t stop there as Bayne moved into second following a Lap 21 restart. Bayne continued to fight for position inside the top three until contact with the No. 22 car of Brad Keselowski knocked the AdvoCare Mustang sideways through the Inner Loop and ultimately back to 22nd.
Despite the loss of track position Bayne never gave up and drove his way back up to as high as 15th before pitting under green for the final time on Lap 47. A timely caution four laps later on Lap 51 gave crew chief Drew Blickensderfer an opportunity to play the strategy game and decided to leave Bayne out on the race track while several of the race leaders came to pit road. The strategy move payed off as Bayne took the ensuing restart from the sixth position.
In the closing stages of the event, Bayne would work his way back into the top five and bring the AdvoCare Mustang home with a fifth-place finish. The top-five finish is the 25th of Bayne’s NASCAR XFINITY Series career.
Next up for Bayne is the NSCS in Watkins Glen International on Sunday, Aug. 7.
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NEXT UP:
2.450-Mile Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York
Sunday, August 7, 2016
1:30 p.m. ET on USA and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Trevor Bayne
Started: Seventh
Finished: Fifth
Complete Race Results:
www.roushfenway.com
