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NASCAR: Trevor Bayne is the best dark horse for the 2018 GEICO 500 at Talladega

By Tyler Callaway

HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 23: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, sits on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 23, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 23: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, sits on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 23, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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Trevor Bayne’s future in the NASCAR Cup Series is in jeopardy, but he has a great chance to fight for his job as we go to Talladega. Here’s why he could win the GEICO 500.

Trevor Bayne has had a rough week. He was hit with the daunting reality that his development time has officially run out and he has overstayed his welcome in the #6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The team announced that Matt Kenseth would be driving the car for a select number of races this season, essentially knocking Bayne out of contention for the playoffs if he wasn’t already.

RFR’s confidence in Bayne is so low that they’re not even going to give him the opportunity to finish the season he started. That’s such a big sting that I actually feel the pain from it.

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If there was ever a time for a driver to step up and prove doubters wrong, it would be now for Bayne, as a chip has officially been placed on his shoulder.

He has a shot to do so. Bayne’s only win in the Cup Series came at Daytona in 2011. While he’s done nothing since then as far as wins go, he always competes at restrictor plate tracks and I have a feeling he will be the most desperate driver on the track tomorrow.

A desperate man is a very dangerous man. It could be a real Ricky Bobby moment with an “if you ain’t first, you’re last” mentality on Sunday if Bayne finds himself near the front in the closing laps.

If Bayne is going to get one last win before his time at RFR runs out, it’ll be at a superspeedway, and with his extra motivation leading into this race, he is the driver with the most to prove.

If this opportunity passes him by and Kenseth steps in and runs well, it could very well be the end of Bayne’s time in a capable Cup Series ride and I have a feeling that is not something he’ll let happen if he can help it.

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Another driver to keep an eye on is Darrell Wallace Jr. He showed off his restrictor plate prowess at Daytona earlier this year, and the Richard Petty Motorsports team have also been on a good run here lately. Mix that with the fact that this is his home track and we could see a first-time winner on Sunday.

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