Daytona 500 Champion Trevor Bayne is becoming a member of Flatrock Motorclub as Head Professional and Ambassador. Naturally, we had been enthusiastic about this growth and requested Bayne a number of questions concerning his plans throughout his upcoming tenure at Flatrock Motorclub.
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duPont REGISTRY (dR): What excites you most about becoming a member of Flatrock Motorclub as Head Professional and Ambassador?
Trevor Bayne (TB): I couldn’t be extra excited {that a} world-class motorsports facility now exists an hour from the place I grew up and the place I’m now elevating my household. Over my 28 years in motorsports, I’ve been blessed with wonderful alternatives to drive, compete, develop companies, and kind lifelong relationships. This position at Flatrock Motorclub will permit me to proceed doing all of these issues. As I’ve transitioned out of full time NASCAR competitors, new passions for me inside the sport have emerged that I didn’t understand had been there. A kind of passions is teaching younger drivers and serving to them take full benefit of the alternatives they’ve in entrance of them. I really sit up for seeing all of our members develop as drivers and attain their targets, because the Head Professional at Flatrock. As an Ambassador, I’m enthusiastic about rising the model and consciousness inside the motorsports group of how extremely distinctive Flatrock is as a race observe and as an leisure group! Lastly, I feel that we have now the chance to construct one thing that may change future alternatives for these domestically who, till now, have needed to journey states away to pursue their motorsports passions. I take into consideration my 5 children and a few of their needs to drive. As soon as the karting facility is full, they’ll have an unbelievable place to get began! To sum it up, this place is the right storm that encompasses all the pieces I like about motorsports.
dR: How do you intend to leverage your expertise as a NASCAR driver to raise Flatrock’s choices?
TB: My expertise as a driver for the reason that age of 5 has allowed me to compete in many alternative autos, sequence, and on tracks all internationally. This has allowed me to see numerous examples of how to achieve success on this trade. The very first thing that involves thoughts is security. In my time as a NASCAR driver, I noticed how huge of an emphasis was placed on each single element from seat belt positioning to trace security crew processes, and can have the ability to convey that information to our group. Security is one thing that can be entrance and middle of what we do right here at Flatrock Motorclub. Subsequent, I take into consideration the entire time I’ve spent competing in opposition to the highest drivers on the planet and the way we will take what I discovered and make that approachable and teachable to our members. Lastly, Whether or not or not it’s group house owners, OEMs, enterprise leaders, observe house owners, sequence operators, drivers, and so on., the numerous relationships I’ve been lucky to kind over time can be invaluable to what we wish to accomplish right here at Flatrock.
dR: What distinctive elements of Flatrock’s design and facilities stand out to you as a racer?
TB: This facility was designed and constructed with a really particular function; to serve its members on the highest degree. From the time you pull into the entrance gate you’ll be able to immediately inform you aren’t at simply any previous observe. The truth that you can be turning laps on observe whereas your loved ones is watching out of your storage loft porch or spending time at one of many eating places, spa, or pool by the clubhouse is mind-blowing to me. Once I was rising up on the observe, we had been fortunate to discover a moveable toilet or concession stand anyplace on property! This venture is “luxurious hospitality assembly world-class motorsports.” It doesn’t harm that the observe is ready within the lovely hills of East Tennessee both which, in all honesty, I’m extraordinarily a fan of!
dR: How will the design and options of Flatrock’s street course improve the expertise for members?
TB: The format and elevation make Flatrock’s observe one in every of a sort. It’s a technical and quick observe with a extremely good move to it. There are many distinctive challenges that may preserve any driver from getting complacent. Beginning at flip 1, you drop down a pair tales as you flip proper and attempt to spot the apex curbing. A pair corners later you might be on seventeen levels of banking in a high-speed right-hand flip. When you navigate the up and down eases, and a handful of extra technical corners, you end up on our longest straightway that contains a high-speed kink (maintain it broad open should you can!). I’ve most likely made extra laps than anybody on our observe, and so they have a tough time convincing me to get out of the automobile each time we have now a observe day! It’s a lot enjoyable to drive and at all times leaves you eager about how one can put a sooner lap time collectively.
dR: How does Flatrock’s FIA Grade II observe elevate its standing within the international motorsport group?
TB: Going by the Homologation course of with the FIA signifies that we meet all security necessities to host just about any sequence (in need of Method 1) on our observe. We’re additionally the one FIA grade ii function constructed membership observe on the planet upon completion. That is simply one other means the group reveals our dedication to offer a world class observe for our members to drive on.
dR: Are you able to share an instance of a memorable mentorship expertise and the way it formed your teaching model?
TB: I’m so grateful for everybody who has helped me all through my profession. First I consider my dad, who has by no means missed a lap of one in every of my races and would inform me each element that occurred on the drive dwelling… as if I hadn’t simply lived it. He has been there by the ups and downs and by no means let me let up on pursuing my desires. Subsequent, I consider my shut good friend Michael McDowell who was first employed to assist coach me on street programs once I was driving for Michael Waltrip again in 2009. He’s an sincere good friend who will let you know like it’s, however in a means that permits you to know he’s pulling for you. This can be a robust stability and one which I’m at all times striving to implement. He’s additionally a really sensible drawback solver. Subsequent, I consider my good friend Blake Koch, who’s the encourager. He at all times finds a method to make you’re feeling like you can run by a brick wall with sufficient preparation. As I coach, I hope to be as dedicated as my dad, maintain drivers accountable assist them overcome hurdles like Michael, and encourage them like Blake.
dR: As somebody who began racing at age 5, how does it really feel to now be ready to mentor younger drivers?
TB: What an honor it’s to be in a spot to have a long-lasting affect on the following technology of drivers. Racecar drivers can typically really feel remoted and function on an island. Rivals will be the solely individuals who can relate or perceive what you’re going by, however it may be onerous to construct these relationships as they’re the folks you might be up in opposition to each week. That’s the place folks like myself are available in. Whether or not or not it’s on or off the observe, I’ve been there to expertise the identical issues they’re going by and might help stroll them by these struggles. Hopefull,y I might help them stop a few of these struggles earlier than they ever get there. So far as driving, I’m additionally a really data-driven individual so I’m not simply there to share what I find out about racing with them. I additionally love to sit down down and have a look at movie and knowledge to seek out the potential areas to enhance. Nothing makes me really feel extra proud than once I see one in every of my drivers exit and implement one thing we talked about and go sooner!
dR: What recommendation would you give to younger drivers aspiring to observe in your footsteps?
TB: Be absolutely current within the present alternative! It’s so necessary to reap the benefits of the chance you might have proper now and never at all times be wanting on the subsequent one. Should you can take advantage of the place you might be right this moment, then tomorrow will care for itself! One of the best ways to do this is to remain centered, be relentless in preparation, and understand the significance of the tradition you might be constructing because the chief of your group. There’s at all times a necessity for funding and sponsorship in motorsports, so there’s at all times going to be an enormous emphasis on the relationships you might be constructing that may assist help your desires financially as effectively.
dR: What traits do you see shaping the way forward for motorsports, and the way is Flatrock positioned to embrace them?
TB: I’ve seen an enormous shift in curiosity in the direction of street course racing over the previous few years, even within NASCAR. Once I first began on the high degree, we had two street programs on the schedule (Watkins Glen and Sonoma). This season they’ll race on six street course circuits. Once you couple that with the rising curiosity in Method One it appears to color a transparent image that followers are having fun with the motion they’re seeing at some of these tracks. We’re additionally seeing passionate motorsports fans wanting to seek out methods to get on observe themselves. That’s the place Flatrock Motorclub creates the right bridge. It actually doesn’t matter when you’ve got by no means been on observe or in case you are a younger driver who desires as many laps as doable throughout race season, Flatrock Motorclub offers the chance for each sorts to achieve their targets.
One other pattern is offering Subsequent Degree hospitality. I feel a part of that’s as a result of our tradition has shifted so closely in the direction of distinctive experiences. For sponsors, the game is not about placing a enterprise on the scheme of a automobile. It’s now about entertaining company and prospects with an expertise that they couldn’t purchase anyplace else. Flatrock Motorclub has absolutely leaned into that with the design of a number of the nicest facilities of any observe on the planet.
Flatrock is among the coolest tracks to drive coupled with all the pieces you can ever need from a rustic membership!
This text appeared in our March 2025 Concern.
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