Trevor Bayne: NASCAR's Sweetheart

Trevor Bayne brought back the beauty of a NASCAR Cinderella story after winning the 2011 Daytona 500.

The 20-year-old kid won NASCAR's most prestigious race in just his second Sprint Cup start. But that's not news to anyone who owns a television. Neither is the fact that the other racers, or anyone who has met him, has a hard time finding anything negative to say about him.  

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Lowe's 48 car and five-time NASCAR champ, tweeted, "Trevor Bayne has it all, he just needs a few more years to develop."  

Although Bayne has openly said Gordon was his favorite driver growing up, that had to be a boost to Bayne's confidence.

Bayne did a nation-wide press tour after he won the race. He appeared on Ellen, Lopez Tonight and Good Morning America among others, charming everyone he met along the way.  

Bayne is also a religious young man, which is a breath of fresh air among people his age. Overnight, he has become a household name. Yet he seems just as grounded as he was before the Daytona 500—minus the ultra-bling champion ring he sports on his middle finger. 

Although he has not finished as high in the races since the 500, Bayne has not lost hope. Each week, he gets interviewed and seems more excited than the week before. This young energy and enthusiasm is definitely something that NASCAR needed more of. Not to mention, it was the perfect solution for Wood Brothers Racing.