It's been said that some old guys relive life through the young, whether in longing, regret or just being unable to let go.

Don't you dare accuse stock car icons Jimmy Means or Clyde McLeod of that folly, because they're still getting it done, week-in and week-out, around racing. But right now, as this economic nightmare continues to envelope not just racing, but every miniscule aspect of peoples' daily lives, I'm not worried about them.

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I think some day you'll see him over [in the Cup Series]. I just don't know how soon it can happen, but Childress and Hendrick and Roush and Gibbs -- they need to pay attention.

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CLYDE McLEOD

I'm more than a little concerned about a lot of things in the world at large, but when it comes to racing, I'm worried about the kids. I'm worried about Trevor Bayne.

You gotta worry about good kids like Bryan Clauson and Chase Miller and Jesus Hernandez and Jeffrey Earnhardt and Bobby Santos III and Chase Austin and Dange Hanniford and Landon Cassill and Josh Wise and Woody Howard and Marc Davis and Peyton Sellers. You could go on and on listing those who've had a chance, and most scarily, those who might never get one. Bayne's in the middle of that process.

Here's a kid, 18 years old, who's been racing more than three-quarters of his life. Less than a year ago he was on the verge of something great, when as a Dale Earnhardt Inc. development driver he won a Camping World East Series race, and finished fourth in the championship right behind his teammate Hernandez.

Now, scant months -- a period that to many kids his age would seem akin to a flash of lightning -- he has no idea when his next race will come.

I know, I know -- everyone's got their favorite hard-luck, developmental driver story to share. So why Bayne, and why now? The veteran McLeod tried to explain how, in a matter of minutes, he assembled a volunteer crew to build and field Bayne's car at Bristol.

"Trevor, yes, I would do things for Trevor that I wouldn't do for somebody else because I believe in him, and a lot of people believe in him and I think some day you'll see him over [in the Cup Series]," McLeod said. "I just don't know how soon it can happen, but Childress and Hendrick and Roush and Gibbs -- they need to pay attention. Someone needs to give this kid a quality ride. He'll take 'em for a ride and they'll get big benefits.

"I did it because I like him and he's going to make somebody. . . He's the next Jeff Gordon, mark my words. I'll tell you that, right now -- he's that good."

Means, who fielded his own cars in Winston Cup racing for nearly two decades and who said he'd seen a lot in his four decades in the sport, basically agreed.

"He's going to be a good little driver," Means said. "It's amazing how fast these kids come along and how good they are, how well they can get the job done at such an early age because they have such a good feel for these cars." (Continued)