IRWINDALE, California — At just 17 years old, Trevor Bayne crossed the finish line second in the biggest short track race of the year just behind the 2008 Camping World East Series Champion, Matt Kobyluck. The event noted as the "Daytona 500" of short track racing and Bayne in the Strutmasters Chevrolet almost conquered it. Due to his performance at the All-Star Showdown Bayne captured the Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors. Another honor he could add to his collection of one win, three runner-up finishes, six top 5's and eight top 10's in the 2008 Camping World Series. Bayne finished fourth in the series points as a rookie.
Bayne's win at Thompson International Speedway in the 2008 Camping World Series is what gave him the opportunity to participate in the Toyota All-Star Showdown and a chance to showcase his talents for a ride in 2009. So sitting idle isn't something Bayne plans to do. He's exploring his options not only in the Nationwide Series but in the ARCA series as well as a few possible Camping World East Series competitions.
"Honestly if I had my choice," Bayne joked. "I'd like to run 17 to 24 Nationwide races in 2009. So in order to do that we've got to find some sponsors."
Sponsors like Strutmasters and ETI Trucking jumped on board with Bayne showing their support for this young driver as he made the trek across country to battle against the best short track drivers on the continent. Thanks to Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and Teresa Earnhardt, Bayne was able to bring a new crew out west, most notably Clinton Cram, the crew chief who led Aric Almirola to his Camping World East Series victory at Dover in September. Even Mike Dillon showed his support by loaning Bayne a few motors.
So the young driver, with his new crew, borrowed motors and supportive sponsors took to track on Friday, January 23rd at Irwindale Speedway for what they first thought would be a day full of racing. It turned out to be almost a complete wash, literally, as the Camping World Series drivers got only about a 40 minute practice session around 10:30 p.m., due to rain. Bayne took to the track with scuffed tires in order to prepare the car for the handling he would encounter during the feature race the following night. After feeling out the race car and seeing the practice times weren't quite where they needed to be Bayne and crew made a few adjustments to the Strutmasters Chevy.
After another morning of rain, wheels finally turned on the track for the Camping World Series cars. Around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday qualifying for the coveted 26 starting positions for Toyota All-Star Showdown began. After turning only ten laps ever at Irwindale Speedway, Bayne posted a lap of 18.431 landing him the sixth place starting position. Bayne would start the race on the outside of the third row behind Camping World West Series Champion, Eric Holmes and in front of NASCAR Mexico Series Champion, Antonio Perez. Championship driving was something Bayne would have to do in this present company.
As the race began Bayne drove into the top five. By lap 85 he was battling Holmes for second place and by lap 97 Bayne was knocking on Brian Ickler's door for the lead. On lap 100 NASCAR called the cars into the pits for a mandatory ten minute caution. As the race re-started Ickler, Bayne and Holmes went three wide battling for the lead.
On lap 122 Bayne led the third place car of Ron Hornaday Jr. by over an entire straight away. It looked as though the leaders were checking out. A caution on lap 137 caused the field to bunch back up where Hornaday got around Bayne to battle Ickler for the lead. As the two collided on lap 141 Bayne had to again practice his championship caliber driving skills and avoid the wreck in front of him which collected most of the field. However, the back end of his car became a landing pad for Jeff Barkshire as Barkshire's car rode the outside retaining wall and then came down across the rear of Bayne's Chevy flattening the rear spoiler. NASCAR red flagged the race showing Bayne in first place thus allowing him to lead a lap.
As the race went back to caution Bayne entered the pits to fix the broken rear spoiler. He re-started the race on the lead lap and raced up from the middle of the pack to the eighth position. When a spin in turn two brought out another caution a computer error showed Bayne being a lap down so NASCAR insisted Bayne be put to the back of the pack assessing him a one lap penalty. Twenty laps later another spin brought out the 11th caution putting Bayne in position to gain his lap back. By the mandatory caution on lap 200 Bayne was sitting in the 12th position. He began complaining to the crew that something was wrong with the right front, only to find out later the right front spring broke in half. With only a few laps to go Bayne couldn't afford to come in and pit so he continued to drive the ill handling car.
With ten to go the Strutmasters Chevy was in seventh place and charging hard to the front. As Peyton Sellers took the white flag and led the field into turn four Bayne lined up for a fourth place finish. Second place driver, Joey Logano slammed Sellers into the outside retaining wall causing yet another wreck directly in front of Bayne. Bayne drove through the wreck to take second in his first appearance at the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
"My tires were pretty burnt up from the last few laps where I was making up ground from the lap down penalty," Bayne said. "I probably could've won the race coming out of that last wreck but I let off the gas a little because I wasn't sure where everyone was going to end up."
A second place finish at the Toyota All-Star Showdown is a great ending to the 2008 season and brings optimism to the upcoming 2009 season. Bayne will take his new found experience and head back to North Carolina where he will begin to put together new sponsorship deals so he can continue his success in 2009.
"I gained a lot of experience this weekend driving with some of the best competitors in racing," Bayne commented. "With our new crew we worked well together and almost had a win. Thanks to Mike, Clyde, Ryan, Shorty, Raymond, Paul, Russel and Joey for taking time away from their normal lives to make this trip with us."
