Trevor Bayne First Drove Daytona on iRacing.com

BEDFORD, Mass., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It was standing room only in the Daytona media center this past Sunday afternoon when Trevor Bayne walked in following his dramatic win in the Daytona 500.  But in the same room a year earlier, just a handful of people looked on as he drove an iRacing.com-powered simulator while Michael Waltrip talked him around Daytona International Speedway.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110224/NE54173 )

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Posted on You Tube by Simcraft, builder of the Apex simulator, here's a video of that day in 2010 when a former Daytona 500 champion used iRacing to coach a future one:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RkoG1MKvfU&feature=related

This wasn't Bayne's first exposure to iRacing; in 2009 a friend bought the then aspiring NASCAR Nationwide driver a gift subscription to the iRacing service.  According to Rocky Bayne, Trevor's dad, his son has a setup in his house, and while he doesn't participate in any of iRacing's NASCAR-sanctioned races, enjoys participating in private testing sessions.

"That's how some of our members use the service," said iRacing.com president Tony Gardner.  "On the other hand, the majority of our members, including quite a few NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck drivers, enjoy competing in our online races."

In celebration of this exciting Daytona 500, iRacing is offering a special $5.00 one-month trial membership.  Go to:  http://www.iracing.com/5-dollar-promo/

Gardner noted that Sprint Cup driver and Formula One veteran Scott Speed has been keeping his driving skills sharp on iRacing, as has Timmy Hill, who makes his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.

Speed, who began his driving career in formula cars, has run up 23 wins from 39 road-racing starts in 2011 on top of another half-dozen oval track victories.  Another enthusiastic iRacing.com competitor is 21-year-old Landon Cassill, 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year.  

It's the younger NASCAR drivers – like Cassill – many of whom graduated to iRacing from traditional driving games, who are the most enthusiastic participants in iRacing's six NASCAR-sanctioned racing series.

Hill, 18, who is being touted as one of NASCAR's up-and-coming stars and along with Bayne a strong candidate for Nationwide rookie honors, has won more than 60 races on iRacing, most recently last Saturday in the World Tour of iRacing virtual Daytona 500.

About iRacing.com

The company was founded in 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including "Grand Prix Legends" and "NASCAR 2003." Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, as well as co-owner of NASCAR's Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing.com has partnerships with NASCAR, IndyCar, GRAND-AM, International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports.  iRacing is open to racers and fans of all skill levels from top-level pros to complete beginners. To join in the fun, go to www.iRacing.com.

SOURCE iRacing.com