Bayne, who just turned 20 on Saturday, shocked the racing world by winning NASCAR's greatest event at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.
In his second Sprint Cup start, Bayne showed the veterans how to dance the two-step, mastering the two-car draft and placing his No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion in victory lane for the much-deserving Wood Brothers team.
Before I say Bayne will be stock-car racing's next superstar, he must get a full-time ride in the series. If that hasn't already been worked out, someone is missing the bus. Bayne is a future Cup champion. He just has arrived quicker than most expected.
I met Bayne in August at Michigan International Speedway, where he was competing in the Nationwide Series race. He qualified his Toyota eighth and finished 11th to Brad Keselowski of Rochester Hills.
We talked near the Goodyear tire staging area. He was busy but gave me more than enough time to gather material for a story on him. His engaging smile, politeness and energy were a breath of fresh air compared to some of the so-called stars and their wad of public-relations minders who'd prefer to hide their drivers rather than make them available.
You could tell Bayne was going to be a player, given half a chance.
In 2010, the kid from Knoxville, Tenn., finished seventh in Nationwide points, earning three poles. He made his Cup debut at Texas with the Wood Brothers, finishing 17th on the lead lap.
That Bayne would one day jump to Sprint Cup was a no-brainer.
At 15, Bayne was the youngest rookie of the year in the USAR Pro Hooters Cup series. Now he is competing part-time for the Wood Brothers in Cup and running a full-time Nationwide schedule in the No. 16 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing, co-owned by Northville's Jack Roush.
Wherever Bayne ends up running a full Cup schedule, he'll have success. He's no flash in the pan. He is a smart, aggressive and extremely gifted young driver who has opened up a whole new world for himself with his fairytale victory in The Great American Race.
"I keep thinking that I am dreaming, I really do," Bayne said in victory lane. "We said a prayer before the race and we prayed a lot, and this shows you how powerful God is."
Plus his Ford Fusion and willpower, too, we should add.
Bayne got lost on his drive to victory lane following his win Sunday.
"I didn't know how to get to victory lane, but we will find our way back hopefully," he said during postrace celebrations.
Sunday night, Bayne went to dinner with his team, played horse and rode skateboards in the infield, and went to bed around 1 a.m.
Bayne is the fresh-faced charger NASCAR has been waiting for. He should be embraced accordingly.
"Our first 500 -- are you kidding me?" said Bayne as members of Ford Motor Co. and Wood Brothers gathered around him in victory lane.
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