Bayne says he can relate to Tebow

By: JournalNow Staff | The Associated Press
Published: January 15, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --

Trevor Bayne, the winner of the 2011 Daytona 500, said he admires Tim Tebow and wishes he showed his faith as strongly as Tebow does.

Bayne, 20, was the upset winner in a thrilling finish last year in the Daytona 500, and he has used his newfound fame as a platform for his Baptist faith. Bayne said he talked to Tebow, the Denver Broncos' quarterback, by phone in the whirlwind media tour after his victory and that Tebow gave him useful advice.

The two met briefly at the ESPYs and have since exchanged occasional text messages.

"He gave me a lot of great advice, because he's been through things that I had not yet got to, and now I've experienced them, and his advice really helped out," Bayne said. "Tebow is a great guy. He is everything that he says he is, and I think that's what's so awesome because we see so much in our world of people talking up a good game ... but they are not what they say they are. I think he really is.

"It's definitely somebody I look up to, and I'd like to wear my faith on my sleeve a little more like he does."

Tebow is the son of evangelical missionaries and does not hide his religious convictions. Bayne said he understands why that's so polarizing.

"It's polarizing to me because it's something different that I think our world needs, and I think it desires," Bayne said. "When you look at somebody and see something different, you wonder what that is, and I think Tim Tebow's made that very clear what it is."

Bayne said he started racing with the goal of becoming a champion, but his priorities have shifted as he has gotten older. He talked after his Daytona victory of using his new platform for his faith, and his father, Rocky, said that Tebow's No. 15 being among the NFL's best-selling jerseys is evidence that an athlete with strong religious views can attract fans.

"I wanted to win races, and I wanted to have the most followers on Twitter or the most fans, but I think that's changed over the last few years," Bayne said.

"It's not about me, it never has been, it's not about what I do here.

"But it's about what happens for the Kingdom, and I think this year I am a lot more fired up about storing my treasures in heaven instead of here."