A10 â—† Sports
The Mountain Press â—† Wednesday, December 9, 2009
RACING WITH RICH
Local driver making his way in NASCAR Near the end of the 2009 NASCAR schedule Michael Waltrip Racing announced that Trevor Bayne would compete full time for their organization in the upcoming Nationwide Series season. Bayne is a native of Knoxville who actually began his racing career right here in Kodak at the Dumplin Valley Raceway, a go-kart track located just off of I-40 near the Tennessee Smokies ballpark. “I was only 5-yearsold,� Bayne recalls of his first race. “It was just me and one other kid. I wanted to win so I just cut right through the middle of the track so I could get ahead.� It’s not so hard for Bayne to remember that first race. After all, he is only 18 years of age now as he prepares for his first full season driving the 99 Nationwide car. NASCAR requires that drivers in its top three divisions be at least eighteen. He will turn 19 in February of 2010. As it turned out, Bayne’s karting career did not stay in Kodak. “After a couple of years racing there we starting going all over the place,� he recalls. “We were on the road a lot.� He found numerous race
wins and karting championships while out on the road. That traveling did not prevent Bayne from having a somewhat normal childhood. “I played baseball and football all the way up to my first couple of years in high school,� he says. “Then, it got kinda tough to do more than just the racing. After my sophomore year we moved to Mooresville, North Carolina so I could focus more on that.� Bayne attended both Knoxville Central and Gibbs high schools while living in the Knoxville area. After moving to Mooresville, Bayne’s career really began to take off. He was driving in the USAR stock car series at the age of 15 when an impromptu meeting lead to even bigger and better things. “I was racing in the USAR race at Bristol,� Bayne recalls. “During a break I was in the back of a hauler with Billy Ballew(owner of Kyle
NASCAR’s Camping World East late model stock car series. Just as it looked like things were going as well as possible, DEI informed Bayne in early 2009 that because of finances they were going to have to let him go. However, the closing of one door opened another. Bayne meet with former team owner Gary Bechtel, who was looking to get back into the Nationwide Series. “It really worked Trevor Bayne out just perfect,� Bayne said. “Gary was looking to Busch’s truck series get back into it, I needed a team). We talked about me maybe driving for him ride and MWR was looking for a partner for their someday. Nationwide team. We were “There was also a guy named ‘Pat’ who was there all in the right place at the right time.� in the hauler as well,� he Aaron’s Rents has added. “I ended up talkagreed to sponsor some ing to Pat more than to Ballew. I didn’t think any- of the races for the 99 Nationwide Toyota in thing had come of it.� 2010. “Gary and MWR It turns out the ‘Pat’ are committed to running Bayne had been talking the full schedule whether to was Pat Suhy, General Motors’ NASCAR director. we get more sponsorship or not,� Bayne declared. “I didn’t even know who Things have really he was,� Bayne admitted. fallen into place for this From the time of the meeting things that would nice and accommodating young man. Perhaps those move Bayne toward NASCAR top levels began things will continue to fall into place all the way from to fall into place. Suhy Dumplin Valley to victory called Bayne and evenlane in Daytona. tually helped the young Please contact me by driver sign a developvisiting my website at ment contract with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to drive in RacingWithRich.com.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS FOOTBALL
GUN SHOW DEC. 12-13 SAT. 9-5, SUN. 9-4
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Starz soccer club wants players
The Sevierville Starz Soccer Club is looking for high school age girls to play competitive soccer in the spring. The team offers experienced coaches who provide a structured learning environment. There will be an informational meeting on Thursday Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sevierville Civic Center. High School girls and parents are welcome to attend. For more infomation call Bobby Norword at 235-4167.
Gumbel has lung cancer
NEW YORK (AP) — Bryant Gumbel shocked a television audience with the news that he’s recovering from lung cancer surgery and treatment. The former “Today� show anchor, 61, said a malignant tumor and part of his lung were removed two months ago. He revealed his condition to Kelly Ripa while subbing for Regis Philbin on Tuesday’s edition of “Live With Regis and Kelly.� (Philbin recently had hip replacement surgery.) “It’s nothing to hide from,� Gumbel said. “They opened up my chest, they took out a malignant tumor, they took out part of my lung and they took out some other goodies.� Even with the surgery, some aggressive cancer cells had escaped, “so I went through some treatment and it’s done now,� he said.
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also posted six tackles for loss, two interceptions and two fumble returns for 48 yards. He was named AllAmerica by the AFCA for the second-straight year earlier this week. He is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the top defensive back in college football; the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented to the nation's top overall
defensive player; and the Lott Trophy, awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Berry was the selected first-team All-SEC and the league's Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press last season. Williams closed out his Tennessee career with 61 tackles, the fourth most by an interior lineman at Tennessee since 1990. The
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Memphis native led the Vols in quarterback hurries with nine and tied for the team lead with 8.5 tackles for loss. UT's two offensive honorees were senior tackle Chris Scott and senior running back Montario Hardesty. Both earned second-team honors along with senior linebacker Rico McCoy.
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Vols have five on AP’s All-SEC teams The Tennessee football team had five of its players honored by the Associated Press on Monday as the organization's All-SEC teams were announced. Two Vols earned first-team honors and three more were selected to the second team. UT's first-team selections came on the defensive side of the ball in junior safety Eric Berry and senior defensive tackle Dan Williams. Berry was one of five unanimous selections after finishing the season second among league defensive backs with 83 total tackles. The Fairburn, Ga., native
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