Daytona 500 Champion Trevor Bayne is becoming a member of Flatrock Motorclub as Head Professional and Ambassador. Naturally, we had been enthusiastic about this improvement and requested Bayne a couple 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 superb alternatives to drive, compete, develop companies, and type lifelong relationships. This position at Flatrock Motorclub will enable 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 notice had been there. A type of passions is teaching younger drivers and serving to them take full benefit of the alternatives they’ve in entrance of them. I actually sit up for seeing all of our members develop as drivers and attain their objectives, because the Head Professional at Flatrock. As an Ambassador, I’m enthusiastic about rising the model and consciousness inside the motorsports neighborhood of how extremely distinctive Flatrock is as a race monitor and as an leisure neighborhood! Lastly, I believe that we now have 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 wishes to drive. As soon as the karting facility is full, they may have an unbelievable place to get began! To sum it up, this place is the proper 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 automobiles, collection, and on tracks all internationally. This has allowed me to see numerous examples of how to achieve success on this business. 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 deliver that information to our staff. Security is one thing that will likely be entrance and heart of what we do right here at Flatrock Motorclub. Subsequent, I take into consideration all the time I’ve spent competing in opposition to the highest drivers on this planet and the way we are able to take what I realized and make that approachable and teachable to our members. Lastly, Whether or not it’s staff house owners, OEMs, enterprise leaders, monitor house owners, collection operators, drivers, and many others., the numerous relationships I’ve been lucky to type through the years will likely be invaluable to what we need to accomplish right here at Flatrock.
dR: What distinctive facets 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 stage. From the time you pull into the entrance gate you may immediately inform you aren’t at simply any outdated monitor. The truth that you might be turning laps on monitor 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. After I was rising up on the monitor, we had been fortunate to discover a transportable toilet or concession stand wherever on property! This challenge is “luxurious hospitality assembly world-class motorsports.” It doesn’t damage that the monitor is about within the stunning hills of East Tennessee both which, in all honesty, I’m extraordinarily keen on!
dR: How will the design and options of Flatrock’s highway course improve the expertise for members?
TB: The structure and elevation make Flatrock’s monitor certainly one of a sort. It’s a technical and quick monitor with a very good circulate 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 includes a high-speed kink (maintain it huge open if you happen to can!). I’ve most likely made extra laps than anybody on our monitor, they usually have a tough time convincing me to get out of the automobile each time we now have a monitor day! It’s a lot enjoyable to drive and all the time leaves you fascinated with how one can put a sooner lap time collectively.
dR: How does Flatrock’s FIA Grade II monitor elevate its standing within the world motorsport neighborhood?
TB: Going by means of the Homologation course of with the FIA implies that we meet all security necessities to host just about any collection (wanting Formulation 1) on our monitor. We’re additionally the one FIA grade ii function constructed membership monitor on this planet upon completion. That is simply one other method the staff reveals our dedication to supply a world class monitor 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 type?
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 certainly one 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 means of the ups and downs and by no means let me let up on pursuing my desires. Subsequent, I consider my shut buddy Michael McDowell who was first employed to assist coach me on highway programs once I was driving for Michael Waltrip again in 2009. He’s an sincere buddy who will inform you like it’s, however in a method that allows you to know he’s pulling for you. This can be a robust steadiness and one which I’m all the time striving to implement. He’s additionally a really sensible downside solver. Subsequent, I consider my buddy Blake Koch, who’s the encourager. He all the time finds a strategy to make you are feeling like you might run by means of 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 an enduring influence on the subsequent technology of drivers. Racecar drivers can typically really feel remoted and function on an island. Opponents will be the solely individuals who can relate or perceive what you’re going by means of, however it may be onerous to construct these relationships as they’re the individuals you might be up in opposition to each week. That’s the place individuals like myself are available in. Whether or not it’s on or off the monitor, I’ve been there to expertise the identical issues they’re going by means of and will help stroll them by means of these struggles. Hopefull,y I will help them forestall a few of these struggles earlier than they ever get there. So far as driving, I’m additionally a really data-driven particular person so I’m not simply there to share what I find out about racing with them. I additionally love to take a seat down and have a look at movie and knowledge to search out the potential areas to enhance. Nothing makes me really feel extra proud than once I see certainly one 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 comply with in your footsteps?
TB: Be absolutely current within the present alternative! It’s so necessary to benefit from the chance you’ve gotten proper now and never all the time be trying on the subsequent one. For those who can take advantage of the place you might be at the moment, then tomorrow will care for itself! One of the simplest ways to do this is to remain centered, be relentless in preparation, and notice the significance of the tradition you might be constructing because the chief of your staff. There may be all the time a necessity for funding and sponsorship in motorsports, so there’s all the time going to be an enormous emphasis on the relationships you might be constructing that may assist help your desires financially as nicely.
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 highway course racing over the previous few years, even inside NASCAR. After I first began on the prime stage, we had two highway programs on the schedule (Watkins Glen and Sonoma). This season they may race on six highway course circuits. While you couple that with the rising curiosity in Formulation One it appears to color a transparent image that followers are having fun with the motion they’re seeing at a lot of these tracks. We’re additionally seeing passionate motorsports fanatics wanting to search out methods to get on monitor themselves. That’s the place Flatrock Motorclub creates the proper bridge. It actually doesn’t matter when you have by no means been on monitor or if you’re a younger driver who needs as many laps as potential throughout race season, Flatrock Motorclub gives the chance for each sorts to succeed in their objectives.
One other development is offering Subsequent Stage hospitality. I believe 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 clients with an expertise that they couldn’t purchase wherever else. Flatrock Motorclub has absolutely leaned into that with the design of a few of the nicest facilities of any monitor on this planet.
Flatrock is without doubt one of the coolest tracks to drive coupled with all the pieces you might ever need from a rustic membership!
This text appeared in our March 2025 Subject.
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