Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Summer Preview
  • Prime Day deals
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • GTA 6
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Racing

How a game helped 20-year-old Trevor Bayne achieve his Daytona 500 win

News
By Mark_Raby published 25 February 2011

Subscription-based racing game training up-and-coming drivers, and working surprisingly well

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

At the age of 20, Bayne becomes the youngest competitor ever to win the Daytona 500. His accomplishment is surely based on many factors - he seemed to have been born with a penchant for racing, having developed an interest in go-karts when he was only five years old. Before he was a teenager, he had won three professional go-kart racing World Championships.

At the age of 13, he moved onto professional race car driving and earned the title of Top Rookie at the Allison Legacy Race Series - the youngest in the series' history. At age 14, he rose to National Champion there, and shortly thereafter, he began racing in Nascar competitions. In 2009, he signed a national, season-long sponsorship contract.

So, basically, the guy can run (drive?) circles around people who have more years of experience than he's been alive. How is that possible? Well, aside from his natural talent, Bayne apparently had a bit of help from a game called iRacing.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

Bayne received a subscription to iRacing, a sophisticated racing simulation which stays up-to-date with faithful recreations of all the major speedways, in 2009. He started using that to prepare for upcoming races and his performance improved.

In the 2009-2010 season, Bayne finished in 23rd place. After two years of using iRacing (combined with actual real-world experience), he won one of the most coveted races in the world. He's not the first to use it, either - up-and-comer Timmy Hill has won more than 60 races in the game, and will make his real racing debut Saturday in theNationwide Series.

You may like
  • A sim racing rig in the passenger seat of a commercial truck Truck driver replaces passenger seat with $6,000 sim driving rig, uses it while "stuck in traffic"
  • Clutch screenshot Clutch preview: A stylish open-world racing game that is trying to do too much too quickly
  • Forza Horizon 5 herding cats series 3 photography challenge Best racing games to put you in pole position in 2026

Maybe we should check this game out...

[Source: Jalopnik]

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Got a newstip? Let us know attips@gamesradar.com

Feb 24, 2011

CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Mark_Raby
Read more
A sim racing rig in the passenger seat of a commercial truck
Simulation Games Truck driver replaces passenger seat with $6,000 sim driving rig, uses it while "stuck in traffic"
 
 
Clutch screenshot
Racing Games Clutch preview: A stylish open-world racing game that is trying to do too much too quickly
 
 
Forza Horizon 5 herding cats series 3 photography challenge
Racing Games Best racing games to put you in pole position in 2026
 
 
Switch 2 launch games: a close-up of Mario and Luigi racing each other during Mario Kart World.
Racing Games The real-life F1 car's new boosting feature is "like the mushroom in Mario Kart," drivers say
 
 
MOZA
Racing Games Sim racing innovator MOZA unveils new AI-powered tools to make you feel a professional driver
 
 
Star Wars Galactic Racer big preview
Racing Games Star Wars: Galactic Racer makes more sense for the Star Wars universe than Palpatine somehow returning ever did
 
 
Latest in Racing
Forza Horizon 6 astrotoy photo challenge orange mercedes track toy car in front of rocket launch facility
Forza Horizon Forza Horizon 6 Space Port and Track Toy Photo Challenge location
 
 
Clutch screenshot
Racing Games Clutch preview: A stylish open-world racing game that is trying to do too much too quickly
 
 
Forza Horizon 6 vending machines in gas station with Lotus Emira in front
Forza Horizon How to find Forza Horizon 6 vending machines to smash
 
 
An orange car in The Crew.
Racing Games Stop Killing Games says Ubisoft attended "invitation-only" meeting with EU Commission
 
 
Four cars vie for position in a rural Japanese town in Forza Horizon 6
Forza Horizon Forza Horizon 6's stunning car list was brought to life with the help of the Oblivion Remastered studio
 
 
FGS
Racing Games Co-op RC game Wheelmates gets its first public demo, with a big dash of It Takes Two energy
 
 
Latest in News
Palworld 1.0 trailer shows panda-like boxer Pal
Survival Games Nintendo Palworld lawsuit has "zero chance" at more than "chump change," expert says
 
 
Marathon screenshots
FPS Games Marathon Season 2 woes continue as Cryo Archive is disabled after players find revive-blocking bug
 
 
Destiny: Rise of Iron screenshot shows an individual wearing a metal helmet.
Destiny Inspired by Dark Souls, former Destiny lead fought to add super tough enemies to the start of the game
 
 
Palworld pal Herbil has a surprised expression in official animated short Finders Keepers.
Survival Games "We'd be fools to put this game aside": Palworld devs couldn't resist following 1.0 up with farming and dating sims
 
 
A Stardew Valley character
Simulation Games Stardew Valley player commits to beating the chill farming sim in the least chill way: at 50x speed
 
 
Xbox logo on sparkly green background
Games "Xbox will dissolve into Windows," ex PlayStation boss says, which is Microsoft's "strength"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Palworld 1.0 trailer shows panda-like boxer Pal
    1
    Nintendo Palworld lawsuit has "zero chance" at more than "chump change," expert says
  2. 2
    Marathon Season 2 woes continue as Cryo Archive is disabled after players find revive-blocking bug
  3. 3
    Fabled Legacy codes (June 2026) and how to redeem them for Gems, Dawnbreak Coins, and more
  4. 4
    Inspired by Dark Souls, former Destiny lead fought to add super tough enemies to the start of the game
  5. 5
    Thermal paste could be a thing of the past if Noctua and AMD have anything to say about it

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...