He is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the number 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the number 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.
Bayne was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and began his racing career racing go-karts at the age of five. After eight years, he moved to Allison Legacy Race Series, where he became the youngest top rookie. Two years later, he moved to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division. In 2008, he signed a contract with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to race in the NASCAR Camping World East Series, where he recorded one win, six top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. One year later, he recorded Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors after participating in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Also in 2009, he began racing in the Nationwide Series for Michael Waltrip Racing.
After one year with the team, he moved to Roush Fenway Racing, and began racing in the Sprint Cup Series for Wood Brothers Racing. In 2011, Bayne won the Daytona 500, becoming the youngest driver to win the race.
In only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, Bayne won a wild Daytona 500 on Sunday to take the fabled Wood Brothers Racing team back to victory lane at Daytona International Speedway.
The 20-year-old led the final six laps and held off fellow Ford driver Carl Edwards by .118 seconds to become the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500.
