NASCAR: Trevor Bayne won’t return to Roush Fenway Racing in 2019

Trevor Bayne will not return to Roush Fenway Racing behind the wheel of the #6 Ford in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season.

After the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season comes to an end, Trevor Bayne will no longer drive the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, which he drove full-time from the 2015 season through the 2017 season and has driven part-time throughout the first 26 races of this season.

In 16 starts so far this season, the 2011 Daytona 500 champion has an average finish of 24.4. His best finish is his 11th place finish in the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, which took place earlier this month.

Here is what Roush Fenway Racing team co-owner Jack Roush had to say about Bayne not returning to the seat of the #6 Ford next season, according to NASCAR.

"“We’re making a search. We’re in negotiations with drivers right now that would drive the 6 car next year. I think the decision’s been made. I don’t want to be breaking the story here, but I think the decision’s been made. Trevor is not going to be in the car next year. Who we’re talking to and how close we are in those negotiations, I’m not inclined to say.”"

Bayne started out the 2018 season, his fourth season driving for Roush Fenway Racing, as a full-time driver. However, after the 11th race of the season at Dover International Speedway, it was announced that he and 2003 Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth would be splitting time behind the wheel of the #6 Ford throughout the rest of the season.

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The 27-year-old Knoxville, Tennessee has driven in the Cup Series since the 2010 season despite the fact that he has only driven full-time since he began driving the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the 2015 season. He drove part-time for Wood Brothers Racing from the 2010 through the 2014 season.

As the driver of the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Bayne secured his first career Cup Series victory, which is still his lone Cup Series victory. He earned this victory in just his second career Cup Series start as a 20-year-old in the 2011 Daytona 500.

In his 180 starts since his Daytona 500 victory, Bayne has recorded four top five finishes, of which two took place in the 2016 season and two took place in the 2017 season, and 15 top 10 finishes. As a full-time driver, his best finishes in the championship standings are 22nd place finishes in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Throughout the final 10 races of the 2018 Cup Series season, Bayne is set to make six more starts before he officially no longer drives the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.

With Trevor Bayne not returning to Roush Fenway Racing in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, will he still end up competing in the Cup Series next year? If so, for which team will he drive? If not, what will he end up doing?