Bayne secures Nationwide ride for next season
The 18-year-old Knoxville, Tenn., native has one win in the Camping World East tour and two seventh-place finishes in 14 NNS starts this season. If Bayne's rookie year goes as planned, expect him to make seven Sprint Cup starts in 2011 and the full Cup season in 2012.
"We are extremely excited to have Trevor behind the wheel of the No. 99 Toyota," said Bechtel. "Even though the No. 99 team is not fully sponsored, we are committed to running Trevor in the entire season so he can compete for the championship. He has shown a lot of promise this season and we expect him to be one of the frontrunners next year."
Bayne will compete under a new alliance formed between Michael Waltrip Racing and former Diamond Ridge Motorsports owner Gary Bechtel. The team will race out of the MWR shop in Cornelius, N.C. and will be managed by MWR personnel.
"The Nationwide team is very important to me because it started in my garage behind my house and it's where I first developed my relationship with Aarons," said Waltrip. "Having someone as passionate about that team as me is why I'm honored to have Gary and Blake Bechtel as my partners. They are all in for this team's success and have given us the opportunity to race Trevor Bayne full-time. This is just another way Michael Waltrip Racing is securing its future with great sponsors and partnerships."
Waltrip said Jerry Baxter is expected to remain crew chief for the team.
