NASCAR Cup Series

Roush's Bayne could make Cup debut at Texas

Published Oct. 9, 2010 11:41 p.m. ET

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Trevor Bayne could make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7 if the details can be worked out.

Jack Roush’s latest protégé would likely be behind the wheel of the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford for the Wood Brothers or a fifth Roush Fenway Racing Ford, depending on the situation. While NASCAR limits Cup organizations to four cars, there is an exemption for rookies. Hendrick Motorsports ran Brad Keselowski in a fifth car for two races in 2008 before he extended his driving duties to add Phoenix Racing the following year.

Roush said the goal is “to get him qualified acceptable to NASCAR for Cup cars in a number of races for next year. The first step is to get him qualified.”

Bayne, 19, joined the Roush Fenway Racing organization last week before the race at Kansas Speedway. After running a limited Nationwide Series program with Michael Waltrip Racing in 2009 and extending his relationship with the company through its partnership with Gary Bechtel that formed Diamond Waltrip Racing for this season, Bayne posted three poles, five top fives and 10 top-10 finishes in the No. 99 Toyota. Prior to moving to RFR he was seventh in the points standings.

The Knoxville, Tenn.-native says making his Cup debut at Texas “would be awesome.”

“That’s what I’ve been looking forward to my whole life — since I was 5 years old — to make my Cup debut,” Bayne said. “That’s all I’ve been waiting on, so the sooner the better. I honestly don’t know when it’s going to be. I hear the rumors. I’m waiting to hear the info before I get too excited because for my first Cup race, man, I’m going to be stoked.

“I don’t know what to compare it to, but just waiting on something to happen — if it doesn’t happen, then you get disappointed. I’m just trying to keep it tamed down for now.”

Bayne acknowledges he’s in a learning mode. He continues to gain experience every time he returns to a track. And should Bayne be partnered with the Wood Brothers, he would have the experience of veteran crew chief Donnie Wingo to expedite his learning curve.

While Bayne isn’t completely moved into RFR — he’s currently driving a car with teammate Colin Braun’s seat — Roush believes his driver is “doing fine.”

“The cars feel different,” Bayne said. “The engines feel different this is just his second race, so we’ll see. “

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