Trevor Bayne is edging closer to making his NASCAR return this weekend. “It’s our firm expectation that he will compete this weekend,” said a source from Roush Fenway Racing.Bayne, 20, underwent two days of testing at the Mayo Clinic and was scheduled to return Tuesday night from Minnesota. Bayne will test at an undisclosed track Wednesday and will meet with NASCAR physicians before returning to action this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in his Sprint All-Star Race debut. Bayne is also expected to compete at Iowa Speedway on Sunday.(Fox Sports)(5-17-2011)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway and the Wood Brothers have decided to withhold Trevor Bayne from NASCAR competition this weekend, including Sunday’s Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway and Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Although we would like for Trevor to be on the track this weekend, we want to make sure that he is fully back to prime condition before he goes out to compete with the best drivers in the world,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “He has been undergoing tests and out of his routine for almost a month now. With that disruption in his schedule, he has not been able to take part in our daily training activities and he’s going to need a little more time to get acclimated to the strenuous demands of a NASCAR racing schedule,” added Newmark. “Obviously we would love to have him back out on the track, but we are not prepared to do that until we are sure that he’s 100 percent. His symptoms have improved tremendously, but we’re still not all the way back to where we want to be.” Neither the Roush Fenway #16 Nationwide Series entry, nor the Wood Brothers #21 Sprint Cup entry, will participate in the NASCAR races this weekend. The Wood Brothers, however, do intend to participate in the Pit Crew Challenge this evening. (Roush Fenway Racing)(5-19-2011)
UPDATE: The undisclosed illness that has sidelined Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne with blurred vision and other symptoms for more than three weeks will keep him from driving in Saturday’s All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bayne tested Wednesday at Rockingham Speedway for Roush Fenway Racing, which owns Bayne’s contract and fields him in the #16 Ford in the Nationwide Series. RFR officials said Bayne, who qualified for the All-Star race by winning the Sprint Cup opener at Daytona in the #21 he drives on a limited basis for the Wood Brothers, did not appear at full strength after more than three weeks of non-activity while undergoing tests. Bayne’s Nationwide car did not make the trip to Iowa for Sunday’s race and will not be entered with any driver. The Wood Brothers will not replace Bayne in the All-Star race even though they have that option. Bayne has been having symptoms of blurred vision, pain in his left shoulder and elbow, fatigue and periods of feeling nauseous since early last month. Although the symptoms had subsided enough that it was initially thought Bayne could compete in the All-Star race, it was decided after Wednesday’s test he probably needed another week to recuperate and gain back his full strength.(ESPN)(5-20-2011)
