Age no longer a factor, Bayne closer to next phase

Trevor Bayne is breathing a sigh of relief these days.

The 17-year-old just learned NASCAR's talks of increasing the legal racing age to 21 have ended and his journey into the big leagues will commence promptly after his 18th birthday in February.

Officials from NASCAR talked during the offseason about potentially increasing the age limit from 18 to 21 but recently decided against it.

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"It was a scary subject for a long time and I've been on edge of my seat. Teams have big investments in these young development drivers, so I'm glad they decided to stay with the 18 age," said Bayne, who in May of 2007 was tapped to join Dale Earnhardt Inc. as a development driver and compete in the Camping World Series East.

Signed to a long-term contract with DEI, along with Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt, and Jesus Hernandez, a NASCAR Drive for Diversity recipient, Bayne and his teammates all finished in the top 10 of Sunday's US Cellular 200 at Iowa Speedway. Bayne finished fourth in the Camping World event, followed closely by Earnhardt in fifth and Hernandez in sixth. Sprint Cup star Kasey Kahne competed as well and finished third.

"Racing behind Kahne was cool. This was a big day for everyone involved with our driver development program," said Bayne, driver of the No. 1 DEI Chevrolet. "For us to put all three cars in the top 10 says a lot about our drivers, our crews and the guys in the shop."

Bayne's crew chief, Haskell Lavalette, agreed.

"Those are the types of races we expected to have when we put this program together," Lavalette said. "We knew these kids could drive, it was just a matter of getting them some seat time and getting them used to this level of competition," he said. "Once we can start doing that on a regular basis, you'll see each of these guys competing for the win in every race."

In addition to the Camping World schedule, Bayne also is running a full schedule in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Southern Division with a team Bayne and his father have operated for three years.

Trevor Bayne

Bayne, a Knoxville, Tenn. native, began racing go-karts when he was 5. Throughout the next eight years, he won more than 300 events and earned 22 titles including World Karting Association champion three times.

In 2004, he moved up to the Allison Legacy Race Series where Bayne posted two victories, five pole positions and 11 top-five finishes in 19 starts on his way to winning rookie of the year. Just 13 years old, he was both the youngest race winner and youngest top rookie since the series began.

The following season, Bayne's 2005 Allison Legacy campaign produced 12 wins, 14 pole positions and 19 top-five finishes to become the series' national champion.

Bayne then stepped up to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division and won rookie of the year. At 15, he again was the youngest in series' history to earn top rookie honors.

Now at DEI, Bayne hopes to continue his success in the Nationwide Series.

A year ago, he left his family in Knoxville and moved to Mooresville, N.C., in order to be close to his team. It's not been an easy transition for the teenager but he has found friendships amongst his teammates, namely Jeffrey Earnhardt.

Before the Iowa event, the two raced the track on Bayne's racing simulator Friday and again on Monday, a day after the live action on the track.

"We are always going at it racing each other online, and if we aren't racing each other online, we race each other at the go-kart track here in Mooresville," Bayne said. "For us, racing is a lifestyle, not just something we do on weekends."

Bayne will be in Camping World action again May 31 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway for the Strutmasters.com 150.