NASCAR’s Ironmen, Trevor Bayne and Landon Cassill

NASCAR off-weekends are few and far between, so when I heard that Trevor Bayne and Landon Cassill were running a 70.3 Ironman this past off-weekend I had to find out why.

The NASCAR schedule is a marathon and this last weekend two NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers traveled to Dublin, Ireland to compete in the Ironman 70.3 race. About six weeks ago Front Row Motorsports driver Landon Cassill was talking to his training buddy, and 2011 Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne about his training and got him to agree to sign up for the Ironman. Landon has competed in 6 of these 70.3 mile races, while Trevor had only competed in two sprint triathlons and two 5K’s.

I asked Trevor Bayne about his training and what got him working on his fitness and physical conditioning.

"2011-2012 I started seeing a trainer of athletes in NC area. Josh Wise, Scott Speed and Blake Koch all started getting into it. Scott, and Josh wide fist to compete in triathlon in Ashville, I got a road bike and started riding around Lake Norman. I was never a great runner, and my swimming was at the pool, they were the biggest challenges the cycling came naturally."

How did Landon talk you into the Ironman?

"I started training this year for 2 sprint Tri’s and 5k’s. About 6 weeks ago I got on the phone with Landon Cassel and he said he was doing this Ironman 70.3 here in Ireland, here is a quick way to get ready for them, you have 6 weeks, you ought to do it! I told him he was crazy an I did not think my wife would go for it, and she did. Getting a trip to Ireland is an easy way to get my wife to agree to let me participate."

Was Jack Roush or the team concerned about you getting injured?

"Its another way to get in shape to be in the cars, our average heart rate in the care is 140-150BOM for three to four hours, it lines up with the triathlon style training. With the running, cycling and swimming you really don’t overdo your body in any specific area. They are very supportive of it with Avocare as our sponsor, their health and wellness nutrition company, they are very supportive. Ford has some times with Ironman so they are also very supportive. With Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edward have gotten into cycling and there is a completion between the drivers inside NASCAR. We ride together quite often and push each other."

For Landon Cassill the exercise bug came more from home. His father, who is there in Dublin also competing in the Ironman 70.3, participate in biathlons but was not much a fan of swimming. He saw the benefits of the exercise while in the seat of the racecar.

"I got into it with my dad, running and biking a lot, doing duathlons, I was not really into swimming. I needed something to elevate my fitness in the racecar. I felt there was a really good collation between endurance sports and what my body was going through in a racecar. So my dad and I signed up for our first 70.3 in Racine Wisconsin and started training for that race."

For Landon he has a bit of an advance on Trevor Bayne in the Ironman events.

"This is my 6th half Ironman distance race in last 2 years, First in Racine WI, Canada, Muncie IN, and the Ironman 70.3 world championship in Austria. I did one other non Ironman sanctioned event as well."

Who won the first race? Are you two competitive with each other?

"I think I beat him that first race. He is pretty good for his age, he is very competitive he is competing in his age group class here and he is actually going to Kona for the Ironman world championships. For sure, yea, we are always competing with each other and pushing one another. He lives in Iowa so we train together from a distance. We don’t get to train together very often, we are always keeping up on what the other is doing in training."

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I asked Trevor if he was seeing a difference in his performance behind the wheel with the training and exercises he has been doing. His answers were surprising.

"I think so, my heart rate in the car under race conditions seems to be lower now. My hydration is not an issue with Avocare’s rehydrate bars and catalysts and the products they make. I used to not know I had any endurance issues, until now when I feel so good after races. Don’t get me wrong, I felt good after races, but now its like lets go do it again. That helps mentally when you are not fatigued physically, mentally you are sharper. Me decision making and being able to get the most out of the car at the end of races is better. Especially at places like Bristol, Martinsville, Darlington, the road courses and the more physical tracks I really feel like that gives you an edge."

With Landon competing in the Ironman races more regularly I asked how his trying fit into his busy race schedule.

"Depends on where we are. What the location has for a pool, or places to ride or run. I feel I can get really good training while I am on the road because there is less things to do on race weekend, because my main focus is to drive the racecar. So when I am not on the track I can get up in the morning and get a swim in or go biking or a run in the afternoon. During the week its rough, you have to squeeze them in, I am only home Monday through Wednesday, I have a wife and a baby and work obligations with the team and the media. It always seems we are trying to cram 5 days worth of work into three days. So during the week its harder to find time to train"

Both drivers are very competitive, so I had to find out of there was a wager on the race. Trevor was not taking the bait.

"Landon is more experienced than I am. He may have started after me with the sprints but he has more experience with the half triathalons. He is fast and been training for this the last 2 or three years, where I have been training for this distance for about six weeks. He would have to lock up and cramp for me to beat him. Maybe in a year or so we can make those bets. He qualified for world last year! His swim is very strong, our run and bike we are close, he might have a minute or two on each of those but his swim he has had swim coaches and really worked at it over the last 3 years. Where I did not swim once from 2014 until 6 weeks ago. Swimming is my least favorite and what I have spent the least time on. I just did it when I had to for the sprint tri’s and they were just 500 yards of 750 yards. So I had to get ready for a 1.2 mile swim in six weeks. I feel ready, I just am not as ready as Landon."

Landon Cassill gives Bayne more credit than that.

"Don’t let Trevor fool you, he is very fit and capable of doing this. He did not start from scratch for this. He had a solid base to start. I think once he gets a taste of it he is going to be hungry for more. Its going to be the hardest thing he has ever done but once you do it your hooked."

NASCAR has changed a lot since the days of drivers firing up a cigarette in the car. Todays drivers are doing more to be in peak physical shape than they have ever done in the past. Just the thought that these drivers were able to prepare for such an event in a short period of time shows how well they take care of their bodies on a regular basis. It might have been an off week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, but for Trevor Bayne and Landon Cassill, they were putting in the work.