Trevor Bayne: youngest driver to win the Daytona 500 in NASCAR history. Soon enough these words will sink in for Bayne, who just turned twenty yesterday. “I keep thinking I'm dreaming, I really do. We said a prayer before (the race), we pray a lot and we expect a lot of things. This shows how powerful God is. I'm so thankful for the job the guys did on this racecar. It is unbelievable." said the young driver of the #21 Motorcraft/ Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford. The 2011 Daytona 500 was a history maker all the way through, ending with sixteen cautions, seventy-four lead changes and twenty-two different leaders. Sixteen being the most cautions ever at the Daytona 500. During caution fifteen, Kyle Busch knew the craziness wasn’t over until the checkered flag dropped. “I told you all through speed weeks, I said, it don’t matter how long you can push because it’s going to be a green, white, checkered. It’s getting crazy and it still ain’t done getting crazy.”
David Ragan had a great running car all day. He led the restart on lap twenty-two, but was black-flagged for changing lanes too soon. Ragan finished in fourteenth place. Thirty-seven was the most laps led, by Ryan Newman. He had a strong car but finished twenty-second. Newman hit the wall on lap 203 and collected Martin Truex Jr. along with him. Only twenty-four out of forty-three cars finished on the lead lap.
Many young drivers wait for their turn to get the stardom they strive for. Trevor Bayne has made an influence on many, not only on this historical day but also for decades on down the road. Veteran racers and rookies will have respect for him as he walks his way through the garage. All that is needed to be said; Trevor Bayne: 35th Daytona 500 winner.
Picture by Nascar.com
