Rookie Trevor Bayne, Youngest Daytona 500 Winner

If one is to judge by the way in which the 2011 Sprint Cup season kicked off, the possibility of it becoming one very special year in the motorsport's history seems very likely. The season which will witness so many changes (with possibly the most important being the new points system) kicked off this weekend in Daytona, as usual, but with a bang.

Trevor Bayne, the 20-year old driver of Wood Brothers Ford, managed to win the notorious Daytona 500, outpacing veterans Carl Edwards or Kurt Busch. By doing so, Bayne became the youngest driver in history to win the famous race.

But the records do not stop here. Bayne also became the first driver to win the Daytona 500 at his first presence in the race (excluding, of course, the inaugural race in 1959, won by Lee Petty). He also managed to become the equal of Jamie McMurray when it comes for the quickest victory in the career (Daytona was Bayne's second Sprint race).

"I can't even describe it," said Bayne according to Autosport. "It's our first time coming here so I feel a little undeserving. It's just unbelievable. It's the craziest thing I've ever experienced.”

"Honestly I didn't think I had a chance. Every time it seemed like the second pack would catch the guys at the front. This is a race where you've got to have to have somebody helping you to win it. Everybody that helped me there, I can't thank them enough.”

The victory for Wood Brothers Ford, the oldest NASCAR team, is the first since 2001. Bayne crossed the finish line .118 seconds in front of Edwards. The top five was completed by David Gilliland, Bobby Labonte and Kurt Busch.