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 just a few questions concerning his plans throughout his upcoming tenure at Flatrock Motorclub.
—-
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 type lifelong relationships. This function 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 throughout 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 targets, because the Head Professional at Flatrock. As an Ambassador, I’m enthusiastic about rising the model and consciousness throughout the motorsports neighborhood of how extremely distinctive Flatrock is as a race monitor and as an leisure neighborhood! Lastly, I feel that now we 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 youngsters 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 every part 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 various automobiles, sequence, 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 large of an emphasis was placed on each single element from seat belt positioning to trace security crew processes, and can have the ability to carry that information to our crew. Security is one thing that shall be entrance and middle 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 crew house owners, OEMs, enterprise leaders, monitor house owners, sequence operators, drivers, and so forth., the numerous relationships I’ve been lucky to type over time shall be invaluable to what we need to accomplish right here at Flatrock.
dR: What distinctive points of Flatrock’s design and facilities stand out to you as a racer?
TB: This facility was designed and constructed with a really particular objective; to serve its members on the highest degree. From the time you pull into the entrance gate you may immediately inform you aren’t at simply any previous monitor. The truth that you can 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 rest room or concession stand anyplace on property! This venture 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 street course improve the expertise for members?
TB: The structure and elevation make Flatrock’s monitor one in every of a sort. It’s a technical and quick monitor 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 large open should you 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 now we have a monitor day! It’s a lot enjoyable to drive and all the time leaves you desirous about how one can put a quicker lap time collectively.
dR: How does Flatrock’s FIA Grade II monitor elevate its standing within the international motorsport neighborhood?
TB: Going by way of the Homologation course of with the FIA signifies that we meet all security necessities to host just about any sequence (in need of Formulation 1) on our monitor. We’re additionally the one FIA grade ii objective constructed membership monitor on this planet upon completion. That is simply one other manner the crew exhibits 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 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 house… as if I hadn’t simply lived it. He has been there by way 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 street programs once I was driving for Michael Waltrip again in 2009. He’s an trustworthy buddy who will let you know like it’s, however in a manner that permits you to know he’s pulling for you. It is a powerful 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 solution to make you’re feeling like you can run by way 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 a long-lasting influence on the subsequent technology of drivers. Racecar drivers can usually really feel remoted and function on an island. Rivals would be the solely individuals who can relate or perceive what you’re going by way of, however it may be arduous 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. Whether or not it’s on or off the monitor, I’ve been there to expertise the identical issues they’re going by way of and can assist stroll them by way of these struggles. Hopefull,y I can assist them stop 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 sit down 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 one in every of my drivers exit and implement one thing we talked about and go quicker!
dR: What recommendation would you give to younger drivers aspiring to observe in your footsteps?
TB: Be totally current within the present alternative! It’s so essential to make the most of the chance you may have proper now and never all the time be wanting on the subsequent one. Should you can benefit from the place you might be as we speak, then tomorrow will deal with itself! One of the simplest ways to do this is to remain targeted, be relentless in preparation, and notice the significance of the tradition you might be constructing because the chief of your crew. There’s 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 assist your desires financially as nicely.
dR: What developments 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 inside NASCAR. After 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 Formulation One it appears to color a transparent image that followers are having fun with the motion they’re seeing at all these tracks. We’re additionally seeing passionate motorsports fans wanting to search out methods to get on monitor themselves. That’s the place Flatrock Motorclub creates the right bridge. It actually doesn’t matter in case you have by no means been on monitor or if you’re a younger driver who needs as many laps as doable throughout race season, Flatrock Motorclub supplies the chance for each varieties to succeed in their targets.
One other development is offering Subsequent Stage 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 friends and prospects with an expertise that they couldn’t purchase anyplace else. Flatrock Motorclub has totally 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 every part you can ever need from a rustic membership!
This text appeared in our March 2025 Challenge.
Introducing the February 2025 challenge of duPont REGISTRY, #478, starring the all-new Lamborghini Temerario. To get your fingers on a duplicate, both purchase a single challenge or subscribe.
