Byron Payne
| Byron Payne | |
|---|---|
| File:Byron Payne headshot.jpg Byron Payne in 2025 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
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Byron Payne is an American professional race car driver, high-performance driving instructor, and stunt performer. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Payne competed in open-wheel and sports car racing across North America, Europe, and Russia. He is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Early career
Payne began racing competitively at age 16. He earned a scholarship to the Jim Russell Racing School and was soon sponsored by George Garvin Brown III, heir to the Jack Daniel's whiskey legacy.[1]
In 1990, he competed in the Formula Super Vee Series, winning at Mid-Ohio, finishing fourth overall, and earning Rookie of the Year honors. That same year, he was named one of the Top 10 Most Promising Drivers in North America by Sports Car Magazine.[2]
In 1991, Payne raced in the Mexico Formula 3 Championship, followed by participation in the Russian International Ice Karting Championship in 1992, where he won four races and secured three second-place finishes.[3]
Racing career
Payne went on to compete in several professional series, including:
- Formula Super Vee
- Formula Atlantic
- Formula 3 (Mexico)
- British Vauxhall Lotus
- Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series
- Russian Ice Karting Championship
Coverage in The Courier-Journal highlighted his international competition in Russia and noted the challenges of competing abroad as an American driver.[4][5]
He later transitioned into select sports car and vintage racing events in the United States.
Stunt and precision driving
Payne is a Screen Actors Guild-affiliated stunt performer and precision driver for film and television. His credits include:
- Poker Face (2023) – stunt driver[6]
- Not on My Mountain (2015) – stunt driver[7]
- Street Outlaws: Gone Girl (2021) – stunt driver[8]
- Gold Rush – desert driving stunts[9]
- Girls Gone – stunt driver
His stunt work often involves off-road tactical driving sequences filmed in the Las Vegas desert.
Driving instruction
Payne later transitioned into a career as a high-performance driving coach and instructor, offering both private professional driving lessons and group instruction. He has worked with automotive manufacturers and performance schools including BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche, and has participated in advanced programs such as Rogers Rangers Tactical Driving and Driver’s Edge.[10][11]
Former IndyCar champion Jimmy Vasser has recommended Payne for both professional driving and instruction roles.
Honors and distinctions
- 1990 Formula Super Vee Rookie of the Year
- Winner, Mid-Ohio Super Vee Race (1990)
- Named Top 10 Promising Drivers in North America by Sports Car Magazine
- 1990 SCCA Racer of the Year
- 1992 Russian Ice Karting Champion
- Jim Russell Racing School Scholarship recipient
Works
In 2013, Payne authored and published his autobiography Passion for the Ride, which explores the realities of professional motorsport beyond the glamour of the racetrack.[12]
References
- ↑ Hill, Bob (27 May 1990). "Driving Ambition". The Courier-Journal Magazine.
- ↑ Weingarten, Steve (Nov 1992). "Mystery Man". Louisville Magazine.
- ↑ "Young Driver Wins Russian Ice Race". Valvoline News. Jan 1992.
- ↑ Forde, Pat (Jan 1992). "For Louisvillian, Russian racing no holiday on or off ice". The Courier-Journal.
- ↑ "Ballard graduate Byron Payne travels abroad to race ice-kart". The Courier-Journal. Jan 1992.
- ↑ "Poker Face". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-09-03. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Not on My Mountain". IMDb.
- ↑ "Street Outlaws: Gone Girl". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2025-09-03. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Gold Rush". IMDb.
- ↑ Rogers Rangers – Tactical Driving
- ↑ Driver’s Edge – Byron Payne Archived 2025-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Payne, Byron (2013). Passion for the Ride. Amazon. ISBN 978-8461663231. Search this book on
External links
- Official Website Archived 2025-08-11 at the Wayback Machine
- Byron Payne on IMDb
- Driver’s Edge Profile Archived 2025-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Drivers Collective
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