Trevory Bayne made 13 starts in 2009, including 10 races for #99-Michael Waltrip Racing, where he is expected to drive next year. The 19-year-old Knoxville, Tenn.-native’s best finish was seventh on two occasions. Once at O’Reilly Raceway Park and again at Richmond. Bayne also won the pole at ORP.(FoxSports)(11-6-2009)
UPDATE: Representative from Michael Waltrip will make an announcement about a new partnership and the plans for the #99 NASCAR Nationwide Series team Saturday mroning at Phoenix International Raceway. Attending will be: Michael Waltrip, Gary and Blake Bechtel, Trevor Bayne.(MWR PR)(11-13-2009)
UPDATE 2: Former NASCAR team owner Gary Bechtel has purchased a majority interest in Michael Waltrip Racing’s Nationwide Series team and will put Trevor Bayne in the #99 Toyota full time next year, sources say. MWR will continue to operate the team out of its shop in Cornelius, N.C. Bechtel was the owner of Diamond Ridge Motorsports, which won 10 races in what is now the Nationwide Series and competed in 129 Cup events from 1990 through 1998. Bechtel’s last full season in Cup was 1997, and he sold the assets of his operation following the 1998 season to Joe Gibbs Racing.(SceneDaily)(11-13-2009)
UPDATE 3: Diamond-Waltrip Racing (DWR) announced that Trevor Bayne has signed a multi-year contract to drive the #99 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2010. Additionally, MWR has signed a contract with Bayne to run a minimum of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2011 with an eye on full-time Sprint Cup competition by 2012. Currently, Diamond-Waltrip Racing has limited sponsorship from Aaron’s for the 2010 season and is still searching for additional sponsor support for the remaining races. “We are extremely excited to have Trevor behind the wheel of the #99 Toyota,” said Gary Bechtel, co-owner of DWR. “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.”(Diamond-Waltrip PR)(11-14-2009)
