Daytona 500 Champion Trevor Bayne is joining Flatrock Motorclub as Head Pro and Ambassador. Naturally, we were excited about this development and asked Bayne a few questions regarding his plans during his upcoming tenure at Flatrock Motorclub.
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duPont REGISTRY (dR): What excites you most about joining Flatrock Motorclub as Head Pro and Ambassador?
Trevor Bayne (TB): I couldn’t be more excited that a world-class motorsports facility now exists an hour from where I grew up and where I am now raising my family. Over my 28 years in motorsports, I have been blessed with amazing opportunities to drive, compete, grow businesses, and form lifelong relationships. This role at Flatrock Motorclub will allow me to continue doing all of those things. As I have transitioned out of full time NASCAR competition, new passions for me within the sport have emerged that I didn’t realize were there. One of those passions is coaching young drivers and helping them take full advantage of the opportunities they have in front of them. I truly look forward to seeing all of our members grow as drivers and reach their goals, as the Head Pro at Flatrock. As an Ambassador, I am excited about growing the brand and awareness within the motorsports community of how incredibly unique Flatrock is as a race track and as an entertainment community! Finally, I think that we have the opportunity to build something that can change future opportunities for those locally who, until now, have had to travel states away to pursue their motorsports passions. I think about my five kids and some of their desires to drive. Once the karting facility is complete, they will have an unbelievable place to get started! To sum it up, this position is the perfect storm that encompasses everything I love about motorsports.
dR: How do you plan to leverage your experience as a NASCAR driver to elevate Flatrock’s offerings?
TB: My experience as a driver since the age of 5 has allowed me to compete in many different vehicles, series, and on tracks all across the world. This has allowed me to see countless examples of how to be successful in this industry. The first thing that comes to mind is safety. In my time as a NASCAR driver, I saw how big of an emphasis was put on every single detail from seat belt positioning to track safety crew processes, and will be able to bring that knowledge to our team. Safety is something that will be front and center of what we do here at Flatrock Motorclub. Next, I think about all of the time I have spent competing against the top drivers in the world and how we can take what I learned and make that approachable and teachable to our members. Finally, Whether it be team owners, OEMs, business leaders, track owners, series operators, drivers, etc., the countless relationships I have been fortunate to form over the years will be invaluable to what we want to accomplish here at Flatrock.
dR: What unique aspects of Flatrock’s design and amenities stand out to you as a racer?
TB: This facility was designed and built with a very specific purpose; to serve its members at the highest level. From the time you pull into the front gate you can instantly tell you are not at just any old track. The fact that you could be turning laps on track while your family is watching from your garage loft porch or spending time at one of the restaurants, spa, or pool by the clubhouse is mind-blowing to me. When I was growing up at the track, we were lucky to find a portable bathroom or concession stand anywhere on property! This project is “luxury hospitality meeting world-class motorsports.” It doesn’t hurt that the track is set in the beautiful hills of East Tennessee either which, in all honesty, I am extremely partial to!
dR: How will the design and features of Flatrock’s road course enhance the experience for members?
TB: The layout and elevation make Flatrock’s track one of a kind. It is a technical and fast track with a really good flow to it. There are plenty of unique challenges that will keep any driver from getting complacent. Starting at turn 1, you drop down a couple stories as you turn right and try to spot the apex curbing. A couple corners later you are on seventeen degrees of banking in a high-speed right-hand turn. Once you navigate the up and down eases, and a handful of more technical corners, you find yourself on our longest straightway that features a high-speed kink (hold it wide open if you can!). I have probably made more laps than anyone on our track, and they have a hard time convincing me to get out of the car every time we have a track day! It’s so much fun to drive and always leaves you thinking about how you can put a faster lap time together.
dR: How does Flatrock’s FIA Grade II track elevate its status in the global motorsport community?
TB: Going through the Homologation process with the FIA means that we meet all safety requirements to host pretty much any series (short of Formula 1) on our track. We are also the only FIA grade ii purpose built club track in the world upon completion. This is just another way the team shows our commitment to provide a world class track for our members to drive on.
dR: Can you share an example of a memorable mentorship experience and how it shaped your coaching style?
TB: I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me throughout my career. First I think of my dad, who has never missed a lap of one of my races and would tell me every detail that happened on the drive home… as if I hadn’t just lived it. He has been there through the ups and downs and never let me let up on pursuing my dreams. Next, I think of my close friend Michael McDowell who was first hired to help coach me on road courses when I was driving for Michael Waltrip back in 2009. He is an honest friend who will tell you like it is, but in a way that lets you know he is pulling for you. This is a tough balance and one that I am always striving to implement. He is also a very practical problem solver. Next, I think of my friend Blake Koch, who is the encourager. He always finds a way to make you feel like you could run through a brick wall with enough preparation. As I coach, I hope to be as committed as my dad, hold drivers accountable help them overcome hurdles like Michael, and encourage them like Blake.
dR: As someone who started racing at age five, how does it feel to now be in a position to mentor young drivers?
TB: What an honor it is to be in a place to have a lasting impact on the next generation of drivers. Racecar drivers can often feel isolated and operate on an island. Competitors may be the only people who can relate or understand what you are going through, but it can be hard to build those relationships as they are the people you are up against every week. That’s where people like myself come in. Whether it be on or off the track, I have been there to experience the same things they are going through and can help walk them through those struggles. Hopefull,y I can help them prevent some of those struggles before they ever get there. As far as driving, I am also a very data-driven person so I am not just there to share what I know about racing with them. I also love to sit down and look at film and data to find the potential areas to improve. Nothing makes me feel more proud than when I see one of my drivers go out and implement something we talked about and go faster!
dR: What advice would you give to young drivers aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
TB: Be fully present in the current opportunity! It is so important to take advantage of the opportunity you have right now and not always be looking at the next one. If you can make the most of where you are today, then tomorrow will take care of itself! The best way to do that is to stay focused, be relentless in preparation, and realize the importance of the culture you are building as the leader of your team. There is always a need for funding and sponsorship in motorsports, so there is always going to be a huge emphasis on the relationships you are building that can help support your dreams financially as well.
dR: What trends do you see shaping the future of motorsports, and how is Flatrock positioned to embrace them?
TB: I have seen a huge shift in interest towards road course racing over the past few years, even inside of NASCAR. When I first started at the top level, we had two road courses on the schedule (Watkins Glen and Sonoma). This season they will race on six road course circuits. When you couple that with the growing interest in Formula One it seems to paint a clear picture that fans are enjoying the action they are seeing at these types of tracks. We are also seeing passionate motorsports enthusiasts wanting to find ways to get on track themselves. That is where Flatrock Motorclub creates the perfect bridge. It really doesn’t matter if you have never been on track or if you are a young driver who wants as many laps as possible during race season, Flatrock Motorclub provides the opportunity for both types to reach their goals.
Another trend is providing Next Level hospitality. I think part of that is because our culture has shifted so heavily towards unique experiences. For sponsors, the sport is no longer about putting a business on the scheme of a car. It is now about entertaining guests and customers with an experience that they couldn’t buy anywhere else. Flatrock Motorclub has fully leaned into that with the design of some of the nicest amenities of any track in the world.
Flatrock is one of the coolest tracks to drive coupled with everything you could ever want from a country club!
This article appeared in our March 2025 Issue.
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