One Is The Loveliest Number For Bayne

By Paul Schaefer, NASCAR
July 13, 2008 - 12:23am

THOMPSON, Conn. - Seventeen-year-old Dale Earnhardt, Inc. development driver Trevor Bayne, from Knoxville, Tenn., scored his first career NASCAR Camping World Series East victory Saturday night at Thompson International Speedway. The win came in Bayne’s sixth career start.

Bayne's No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet took the lead from DEI teammate Jesus Hernandez on a lap 97 restart and won by a car length. Hernandez finished second followed by veteran Brad Leighton, Marc Davis and Jeffrey Earnhardt, who was in a third DEI Chevrolet. Bayne and Hernandez swapped the lead five times over the second half of the race.

“It was a great race for a great organization,” Bayne said of the three teammates placing in the top-five together for the third time this year.

“Our cars were equal,” Bayne added about the final shootout with Hernandez. “I had the preferred outside line on the final restart, and everything just fell into place.”

The win topped off a huge day for Bayne, who earlier won his first career Coors Light Pole Award for the event.

Shadowed by Bayne, Hernandez took the lead on a lap 38 restart. The two waged a close-quarters battle for the win. On the race’s final restart with three laps to go, Bayne took the lead, and won the sprint to the finish.

Jody Lavender finished sixth, followed by Matt Kobyluck, Rogelio Lopez, Austin Dillon and Jeff Anton.

With the win, Bayne moved into second in points. He is 29 behind Dillon. Kobyluck dropped to third, six points back of Bayne.