SB Nation Seattle - Trevor Bayne Wins Daytona 500 In His Second Career Starthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2011-02-21T13:02:06-08:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17557652011-02-21T13:02:06-08:002011-02-21T13:02:06-08:00Trevor Bayne Earns $1.46 Million With Daytona 500 Win; Revives Wood Brothers Racing
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<p>Trevor Bayne made a lot of people happy on Sunday as he took home the $1.46 million prize for winning the Daytona 500, all at 20 years old. Bayne, who's about as green as they come in the world of NASCAR, is seeing green for a different reason after the big payday as he suddenly was thrust into the spotlight with a win in the biggest race of them all in only his second career start.</p>
<p>Though he won't be taking home the full-share of that $1.46 million, Bayne is still in line to see a significant financial windfall. According to SB Nation's Jeff Gluck, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/2/21/2005434/daytona-500-purse-how-much-did-trevor-bayne-other-drivers-win" target="_blank">Bayne likely pocketed around $480,000</a>, with his team divvying up the rest as is customary in NASCAR. For a Wood Brothers Racing Team that wasn't even full-time, Bayne's win should go a long way toward boosting the team back into full-time racing.</p>
<p>Gluck also had the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/2/20/2004928/wood-brothers-racing-daytona-500-trevor-bayne-nascar" target="_blank">story of Wood Brothers Racing</a>, who have a story just as great as Bayne. The team is one of NASCAR's oldest, but had to cut back to a partial schedule in 2009 after its finances declined. The win was Wood Brothers' fifth in the Daytona 500, and first since 1976, a long draught, to be sure. Now, with the bulk of Bayne's purse in their pockets, it's possible Wood Brothers, and Bayne himself, can afford to take-on a few more races, perhaps resurrecting the team.</p>
<p>In one day, with a greenhorn behind the wheel, Wood Brothers hit the jackpot. For Bayne, his short-term financial future is secure, even before endorsements come rolling in. It's amazing how everything can change in the matter of hours as a relative unknown shoots into the spotlight on NASCAR's biggest stage.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a target="_blank" href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/21/2006380/trevor-bayne-daytona-500-win-money-wood-brothers-racingBrian Floyd2011-02-21T12:50:38-08:002011-02-21T12:50:38-08:00VIDEO: Trevor Bayne Drives Like A Veteran To Win Daytona 500
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<p>Trevor Bayne drove like a seasoned veteran at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, hooking up in a two-car drive and leading from wire-to-wire over the final two laps in the green-white-checkered finish. Bayne and his draft-mate, Terry Labonte, nailed the restart, shooting out to the lead as they entered the back-stretch. As Bayne entered the tri-oval, he had to hold-off a hard-charging Carl Edwards, who came out of nowhere with the race winding down.</p>
<p>Check out Bayne taking home the checkered flag with a masterful display of driving.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C-vJ12ATp24" height="300" width="500" title="YouTube video player"></iframe></p>
<p>All day, the announcers were discussing just how hard it was to be in the lead at Daytona. Drivers felt as if they were a sitting duck, even with a good draft. Yet there was Bayne, a 20-year-old driver, holding off the field and keeping Edwards at bay down the home-stretch. After avoiding trouble all day -- and there was plenty of trouble at Daytona -- Bayne put himself in the best possible position to take home the checkered flag.</p>
<p>And boy did he deliver with a thrilling finish in the Daytona 500. Bayne became the youngest driver to win the 500 by over five years. Not a bad belated birthday present for Bayne, who turned 20 on Saturday.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time" target="_blank">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/21/2006365/trevor-bayne-daytona-500-highlights-video-winnerBrian Floyd2011-02-21T06:15:31-08:002011-02-21T06:15:31-08:00Daytona 500 Results: Trevor Bayne Wins In His Second Career Start
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<p>For a moment, it looked like the Daytona 500 was destined to be remembered for the crashes and cautions. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. smacked the wall on the restart, during the first attempt at a green-and-white-checkered finish, the star-power in the field faded away, fallen by the wayside after numerous crashes at Daytona International Speedway zapped many of the familiar names. But Trevor Bayne came out of nowhere down to the wire, driving like a pro in just his second career race to give us an incredible storyline.</p>
<p>Bayne was a rookie in every sense of the world, never before racing in a Daytona 500 and being about as green as they come. At 20 years old, Bayne became the youngest driver to win a 500, leading the way into the tri-oval and holding off a hard-charging pack that included Carl Edwards and Bobby Labonte. It was almost too unbelievable to see a fresh-faced 20-year-old out-maneuver some of NASCAR's finest over 500 miles.</p>
<p>The whole story surrounding his win makes it a feel-good tale for fans that watched from afar. Bayne's birthday was on Saturday -- just one day before he took the track for the Daytona 500. At 20 years and one day old, Bayne easily eclipsed the youngest-driver mark set by Jeff Gordon, breaking that by over five and a half years. Gordon started on the outside of the first row on Sunday, but was caught up in a massive wreck early on.</p>
<p>SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/2/20/2004821/trevor-bayne-daytona-500-winner-who-is-nascar" target="_blank">Jeff Gluck has Bayne's back story</a>, and it's one that makes him even more likable. From his nickname -- T-Bayne -- to his brash prediction that he'd win a race this year -- only in the Nationwide Series, though -- Bayne is a guy NASCAR could use. Whether it was luck or the beginning of something special, Bayne's performance at Sunday's Daytona 500 was an impressive display, capping a race that alternated between wild and slow-going under caution.</p>
<p>When it was all said and done, Bayne found himself doing donuts on the track and cruising into the winner's circle at Daytona. Not a bad day for a driver that just exited his teenage years.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a target="new" href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/21/2005307/daytona-500-results-trevor-bayne-age-youngest-daytona-500-winner-nascarBrian Floyd2011-02-20T14:31:23-08:002011-02-20T14:31:23-08:00Daytona 500 Results: Trevor Bayne Wins After Green-White-Checkered Finish
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<p>In a race filled with cautions, Trevor Bayne came out on top, edging Carl Edwards at the finish to bring home the Daytona 500 victory after a green-white-checkered finish. Bayne won the 500 in just his second career start, making it the ultimate Cinderella story for <span class="caps">NASCAR</span>. In a fantastic finish, Bayne blocked the rest of the field as they entered the tri-oval, securing himself a Daytona 500 victory.</p>
<p>Caution came out with just about 15 laps to go, bunching the field together once again and setting up another inevitable crash. Ryan Newman held the lead with just a few laps left, but eight cars were within a second of a lead as the Daytona 500 bordered on out of control and wild, with drivers jockeying for position and looking for an opening to make a move.</p>
<p>The big one came with just five laps to go, spoiling what appeared to be a fantastic finish. Regan Smith, Ryan Newman and a long list of drivers were all caught up in the mess, with many unable to avoid the carnage. Because of the late caution, the field was all set up for a green-white-checkered finish, a quick shootout for all the marbles.</p>
<p>On the restart, it was David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. listed as the top-five. Kyle Busch sat in sixth as the field grouped up one more time for the race to the finish. Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit the wall on the backstretch just after the restart, taking both out of the race as they each tried to link up for the two car draft. Robbie Gordon got loose just ahead of the wreck.</p>
<p>Finally, on the second try at the green-white-checkered finish, six cars broke away in pairs, with Bayne holding the lead for both laps with a push from Bobby Labonte. Carl Edwards finished second after an impressive run down the backstretch to close the gap and nearly pull-off the win.</p>
<p>Kasey Kahne was running well for much of the day, but fell out of contention in heartbreaking fashion, after taking damage just before the stretch run with less than 20 laps to go. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and others were caught up in a big crash early in the race, ending their days as well. By the time it was all said and done, more than half the field had fallen off the lead lap.</p>
<p>The 16 cautions were a Daytona 500 and track record as drivers spent an inordinate amount of time behind the pace car on Sunday. From the start, small mistakes — including spinouts and wall taps — forced the yellow flag to come out, turning the race into more of a grind than anything else. When the drivers were actually racing, the action was fast and furious, though, as it always is at Daytona.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time" target="new">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/20/2004735/daytona-500-results-winner-trevor-bayne-dale-earnhardt-jr-crashBrian Floyd2011-02-20T14:04:18-08:002011-02-20T14:04:18-08:00Daytona 500 Results: Kasey Kahne Heads To The Garage With 17 Laps To Go
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<p>Kasey Kahne’s day at the Daytona 500 took a hit after a piece of a rotor on his car broke off with less than 20 laps to go. Kahne had been running well all day, staying on the lead lap and in the thick of things at Daytona International Speedway. Kahne headed to the garage to fix the problem before returning to the track to finish the race.</p>
<p>The caution was the 14th of the race, easily eclipsing both the Daytona 500 and Daytona International Speedway record. It’s been a day filled with yellow flags and laps behind the pace car, an unfortunate side-effect of spin-outs and engine troubles plaguing the field.</p>
<p>As for the race itself, Ryan Newman has the lead, followed by Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Clint Bowyer and Trevor Bayne. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still running strong, sitting in 10th place and in prime position to make a late run. Tony Stewart sits in ninth, just ahead of Earnhardt Jr.</p>
<p>The Busch brothers, Kurt and Kyle, are running neck-and-neck, sitting at sixth and seventh with the race winding down. Now is the time we’ll see cars pairing off in the two-car draft in an effort to get the biggest run-up to the finish line on the tri-oval. Earnhard Jr. and Regan Smith have formed a formidable tandem all day, and are a pair to keep an eye on.</p>
<p>With time winding down, it’s crunch time as the field jockeys for position. For more on the race, check out our <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time" target="new">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
<p><i>Note: An earlier error about Kahne's trouble was corrected. Kahne was able to finish the race in 25th.</i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/20/2004702/daytona-500-results-kasey-kahne-dale-earnhardt-jr-cautionBrian Floyd2011-02-20T13:25:25-08:002011-02-20T13:25:25-08:00Daytona 500 Results: Caution Record Tied, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lurking
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<p>The 2011 Daytona 500 tied a race record with its 11th caution of the day as the yellow flag waved with just about 60 laps to go. Cautions have been coming out left and right at Daytona International Speedway as drivers have spun-out, hit the wall or blown engines throughout the race. 27 drivers remain on the lead lap, but it’s been slow going for much of the race. With 55 laps to go in the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has come full-circle, jumping into the lead to the delight of the crowd.</p>
<p>The leaders are bunched together again with Regan Smith behind Earnhardt Jr., followed by Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Kasey Kahne sits in fifth, lurking right behind the leaders and lying in wait. Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer are all within a second, as well. With cautions all over the place, it’s been impossible for anyone to break away for an extended period of time as restarts have come early and often.</p>
<p>The 11 cautions tie a race-record set in 1968 and tied in 2005 and 2006. The track record, set in 1989, is 12 a record surely in reach with plenty of race left. In the first 145 laps, drivers have been under caution for 31 laps. To say it’s been a slog would be an understatement.</p>
<p>When the drivers are under green flag conditions, the racing has been entertaining. Two-, three- and four-wide racing has been the norm as drivers are all jockeying for position. With everyone bunched together, it’s setting up for a fast and furious finish at Daytona as drivers utilize their pit strategies to set up for the final run. One more caution should give the drivers a last-chance to pit for the stretch run, allowing them all to top-off and, perhaps, get a change of tires in.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time" target="new">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/20/2004643/daytona-500-results-caution-record-dale-earnhardt-jr-leadingBrian Floyd2011-02-20T12:47:20-08:002011-02-20T12:47:20-08:00Daytona 500 Results: Kurt Busch Leads As Race Falls Under Ninth Caution
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<p>The Daytona 500 has been plagued with a ridiculous amount of cautions, with nine yellow flags coming out as the race passes the halfway point. Because of engine trouble, spin-outs and wrecks, the field continues to be pared down, with just 25 cars on the lead lap now. Kyle Busch has the lead on lap 106 as he continues to avoid trouble.</p>
<p>Paul Menard is right on Busch’s tail, followed by Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne. Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne is sitting in 13 as he continues to run strong at Daytona International Speedway. After starting from the back of the pack, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still hanging around, sitting in 18th, but still within striking distance in the middle of the pack. Juan Pablo Montoya, once near the front, is the last car on the lead lap, 24 seconds off the pace.</p>
<p>Whether it’s the speed, the new racing surface or just the hazards of driving in the large pack, it’s been a caution-fest at Daytona all day, with no signs of slowing down. With great speed comes the hazard of overheating, and we’ve seen plenty of engines blow already today at Daytona. Speeds continue to push 195 miles per hour, with the top lap at 200 miles per hour on the day. With all the cautions, however, the average speed at Daytona has been right around 140 miles per hour for the day.</p>
<p>Drivers are continuing to try and avoid trouble and stay alive down to the wire, mostly jockeying for position until the final few laps. With the way things have gone at Daytona this week, expect a tight finish on the tri-oval.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a target="new" href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time">Daytona 500 </a>StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/20/2004590/daytona-500-results-kurt-busch-leader-caution-kasey-kahneBrian Floyd2011-02-20T11:20:00-08:002011-02-20T11:20:00-08:00Daytona 500 Results: Crash Takes Out Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon
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<p>With just 32 laps in the books at the Daytona 500, cautions have been coming out at an astounding rate. Already, the field has been placed under caution four times, the latest of which resulted from a big crash that took out a few of the favorites. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and others were all caught up in the wreck, which may end up being considered this year’s big one.</p>
<p>Gordon was a favorite to win the Daytona 500 after qualifying second last Sunday, just behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jimmy Johnson, a star on the <span class="caps">NASCAR</span> circuit, was certainly in the mix as well, but saw his hopes end with the crash. Kevin Harvick and JJ Yeley are also out, though each dropped earlier in the race with problems.</p>
<p>With the crash involving a fair amount of cars, the field is quickly being pared down, with just 30 cars on the lead lap. At the start, 43 drivers were entered, but many have already fallen off the pace for various reasons as cautions come out left and right. With speeds hitting the 200 mile per hour mark and cars racing three- and even four-wide, the margin for error is slim.</p>
<p>In non-crash related news, Earnhardt Jr. continues to climb, sitting in eighth as it stands now. Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne is in 18th, sliding in-and-out of the top-10 throughout the first quarter of the race. Jamie McMurray currently leads, followed closely by Juan Pablo Montoya.</p>
<p>For more on the race, check out our <a target="new" href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/13/1991724/daytona-500-schedule-qualifying-gatorade-duels-race-time">Daytona 500</a> StoryStream.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2011/2/20/2004454/daytona-500-results-crash-jimmy-johnson-jeff-gordonBrian Floyd