CORNELIUS, N.C. — The NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule reaches the halfway mark Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway. No. 99 Aaron’s Toyota driver Trevor Bayne travels to the Joliet, Ill. track after earning a career-best finish of fifth at New Hampshire, two top-10 and three top-15 finishes in the last four races. The Diamond-Waltrip Racing driver is 11th in points just 36 points out of 10th.
This week the 19-year-old Bayne, the youngest fulltime competitor in the series, serves as ESPN’s in-race reporter. He’ll talk with the broadcasters before and during the race. His crew chief Jerry Baxter will also offer his in-race analysis while rear tire changer Lee Cunningham will carry a pit crew camera during the race.
QUOTES
BAYNE ON CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY: “I’ve raced only once at Chicagoland Speedway. The track seems to be a lot like Michigan where you can run from the white line to the wall. The white line seems to be the fastest if you can get your car to work down there. Over the last couple of days, I have been making laps on my IRacing game and just trying to figure out the best way around. I’ve also watched video of the past races at Chicago trying to get myself mentally prepared for this weekend’s race.”
ON THE FIRST 17 RACES OF THE SEASON: “This year so far has been a roller coaster ride. We have had some really good races and some really bad races. We haven’t gotten some of the finishes we deserved. We have run up front a lot but something seems to happen to us and we end up behind the wall before the race is over. (Crew Chief) Jerry Baxter has worked really hard this year to give me fast race cars, and I think we are really close to being one of the best Nationwide teams out there. This past month has really been a confidence boost for me. We’ve had some really good finishes and it has shown me that we can run with the cup guys every week.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST
• Bayne started eighth and finished 12th in 2009 at Chicagoland— his only start at the track.
• Bayne owns 32 Nationwide starts. He has a pole (Indianapolis), five top-10s (Indianapolis, Richmond, Las Vegas, Road America and New Hampshire), 15 top-15’s and has led 34 laps. His average starting spot is 12th and finishing spot is 18th.
• Diamond-Waltrip Racing is owned by Gary and Blake Bechtel along with Michael Waltrip Racing. It fields Toyota Camry's out of the MWR shop in Cornelius, N.C. The Bechtels have owned cars in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series since 1990. The Morgan Hill, California residents’ teams have visited victory lane 10 times in the Nationwide Series.
• Bayne continues to remain consistent in his qualifying efforts over his first 32 starts. Over his short career the Knoxville, Tenn., native has grabbed a pole (Indianapolis), six top-five and 16 top-10 starting positions. He boasts a 12.3 starting average and has only started 10 races outside the top 15.
• Aaron’s, proud sponsor of the No. 99, will give away an autographed hat to a lucky race fan through Facebook and Twitter following any top-10 finish. Follow Aaron’s on Twitter (@aaronssports) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/AaronsSports).
• Bayne is 11th in points, but fifth among the non-Sprint Cup drivers in the Nationwide Series.
• Aaron’s is the No. 99 Toyota Camry’s primary sponsor for five of the final 18 races with OUT! Pet Car on the remaining 13 races.
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