Trevor Bayne

By Richard Tix

Twitter: @Tbayne6

Driver Spotlights:

• 2015 Preview

Career Paint Schemes:

2017 Paint Schemes

2016 Paint Schemes

2015 Paint Schemes

2015 Advocare Scheme

2014 Paint Schemes

2014 Advocare Scheme

2014 Motorcraft Scheme

2014 Quick Lane Scheme

2013 Paint Schemes

2013 Motorcraft Scheme

2012 Paint Schemes

2012 Motorcraft Scheme

2011 Paint Schemes

2011 Motorcraft Scheme

2010 Paint Schemes

2010 at Texas. Motorcraft Scheme

2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Trevor Bayne

Trevor Bayne 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

For the first time in Trevor Bayne's racing career he will try to run a full time NASCAR Cup schedule. With Carl Edwards leaving RFR in 2015 a spot quickly opened for Roush development driver Trevor Bayne. With the addition of Bayne it looks like RFR will be making a youth movement in the upcoming season.

Sure, Greg Biffle is still around, but the next guy in line is third year driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Trevor has mainly been in a ride with historic Wood Brothers Racing for his Cup career, including his first win which was the 2011 Daytona 500. 

2011 also marked the season he made his most Cup starts so far in his career (17). But, in 2015 he will finally get to prove if he is ready for a full time ride. He now moves to a team that is well funded and should give him a chance to run more consistent. RFR wasn't its normal self in 2014, but that should just mean the whole team is ready and motivated to make a comeback.

In his career Trevor has shown he can win from time to time, but has yet to notch more than one win in a season at the NASCAR National level. In the Nationwide series (XFINITY now) he had 2 wins in 151 career starts. He finished 6th in point the past two years while running full time in the series.

Just looking at lower level results it looks like Bayne could have a decent season at the Cup level, but I wouldn't expect amazing things to start out with. He has always been a decent finisher, but never top of the class which is how you can explain never having a season with more than one win. However, as I stated before he will at least get a decent shot in 2015 since he is with RFR.

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:

• 2015 will technically be Baynes rookie season in NASCAR. He already has 58 races under his belt and a win at Daytona, yet it seems like he needs some more grooming at the Cup level. He will get exactly that with RFR in 2015. I don't think he will find a win, but think he could put up. 1-3 top 5's and 3-5 top 10's. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he notched numbers under that in his first season with RFR.

List of Previous Driver Spotlights

Roush Fenway Racing Contract Talk

12 Races into 2014 and Edwards and Biffle are Still FA's

By Richard Tix

Coming into the 2014 season a few drivers were on the hot seat and remained free agents. We are now 12 races into the season and typically contract talks (or lack there of) start to pick up. Rumors start flying and everyone seems to have an idea of where a driver should go or stay.

Going into Kansas NASCAR fans learned of a new Clint Bowyer contract extension. He signed a new 3 year deal with MWR and also 5 Hour Energy. He also learned he and his wife will be expecting a child with a "dingy."

Aric Almirola was also a free agent off the board early this season as he also signed a new extension with RPM (separate rumors come with RPM and Toyota, but that's a different matter). So that leaves us with a couple of big names (check out the 2014 Contract Year: NASCAR Drivers article from the start of 2014)

Just this past weekend Roush Fenway Racing announced that Trevor Bayne will be driving for them full time. Trevor will be running the #6 car with a full sponsorship from Advocare. By bringing the number 6 back on the track it still seems as though RFR is looking at the very least being a 2 car team. But, bringing the 6 back and not filling in for the 99 or 16 still leaves the door open to having a four car team in 2015.

The news is still out on Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. With Bayne now in at RFR (and Stenhouse Jr still under contract) I will make an assumption that one driver is out the door.  In my opinion Carl has much more in the tank and is a better title contender than Biffle so he would be the easy choice for RFR to bring back.

But the question remains, does Edwards want to come back? True, he has been so close to winning a title with his current team, but after watching Matt Kenseth in 2013 and Kevin Harvick this year have success after leaving is it weighing on his mind?

The Biff has spent a long and successful career with Jack Roush, but he is at a cross roads in his career. I think a move for him could be in his best interest. Maybe that one last shot of fresh air would help prolong his career and finally give him another shot at a title?

Big rumors have been going around that he could be moving to Michael Waltrip Racing to join Brian Vickers and Clint Bowyer. After seeing Truex Jr leave I think MWR has been wanting to get back to a three car operation. Biffle coming in would give MWR the sponsor ship (assuming 3M moves with him) to add that third car back into the mix.

I think a move to MWR would be good for Biffle and MWR as they would add another veteran driver. As for Carl, I can only see him moving if Joe Gibbs Racing opens up a fourth car for him. I think JGR has the operations to run four cars and could be a power closer to Hendrick with a fourth driver as good as Carl. In the end I do think Carl will stay put in the 99 at RFR though. As the weather heats up, so should the contract talks and eventually NASCAR fans will figure out where these guys will end up.


What do you think? Where should Edwards and Biffle go? Should they stay? Will RFR be a four car team in 2015? Will MWR open up a third spot? How about JGR? Let me know your thoughts!