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Race report

Bayne battles back to secure top-10 finish at Mid-Ohio

Bayne pulled double-duty this weekend, splitting his time between the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Michigan and the inaugural Mid-Ohio NNS race.

Trevor Bayne

Trevor Bayne

Action Sports Photography

Lexington, Ohio – Trevor Bayne and the No.6 Nationwide Children’s Hospital No. 6 team crossed the finish line in the 9th position in Saturday's inaugural Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Motorsports Park.

It was the first NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) sanctioned event at Mid-Ohio and the teams were given an extra day of practice on Thursday to try and figure out the twists and turns of the tight 2.4-mile course.

Trevor Bayne
Trevor Bayne

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

With Bayne pulling double-duty this weekend, splitting his time between the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Michigan and the inaugural Mid-Ohio race, Chris Buescher was tapped to step in and qualify the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Saturday’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200.

The minimal amount of seat time didn’t seem to bother Buescher, he was able to secure a 20th starting position with minimal seat time for the young gun. Unfortunately Bayne was unable to attend the mandatory driver’s meeting due to his Sprint Cup obligations and was relegated to the back of the field.

At the drop of the green flag Bayne went to work, slowly maneuvering his way through the twists and turns of the technical Mid-Ohio road course. A caution on Lap 19 brought the No. 6 Ford Mustang down pit road for the first time on Lap 21.

The team took four tires and fuel, along with air pressure adjustment. The pit crew gained their driver three positions on the stop, moving Bayne up to the 17th position on the restart.

Bayne battled a loose racecar for most of the day radioing in the crew chief Mike Kelley; ”Needs rear grip, tight through the corners.” Kelley took note and planned for the next stop for the young gun.

The next opportunity for Kelley and the team to make adjustments came at lap 57, the team took four tires and two cans of fuel yet again making adjustments to the air pressure to settle the car into the track for Bayne.

The adjustments proved to help but the car was still too loose for Bayne and he eventually spun the car and lost several positions. Bayne radioed in that he felt the tires were fine and Kelley told him to stay out until a caution came out.

Unfortunately no caution came out before Bayne found himself deep in a gravel trap. By the time Bayne worked his way out of the trap he found himself mired back in the 28th position.

The team finally caught a break on lap 89 when a caution flew and gave the team a chance to make some adjustments for their final charge for the checkers. Crew chief Mike Kelley called for four tires, two cans of fuel and two rounds up on the track bar.

Bayne was able to battle his way back to the front gaining 17 positions in the closing laps and crossing the line with a 9th place finish.

Roush Fenway Racing

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