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Dennis Taylor Bakesfield wrap up

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Sometimes, when you know you can do something, and for whatever the reason, can't get to that point, it can be more frustrating than not having the ability to do it at all. For much of the year until this past weekend's NHRA ...

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Sometimes, when you know you can do something, and for whatever the reason, can't get to that point, it can be more frustrating than not having the ability to do it at all. For much of the year until this past weekend's NHRA Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Dennis Taylor and his Cooner Wire backed team felt that way. Such was not the case in Bakersfield, however, as Taylor qualified the Cooner Wire Camaro No. 1 and reached the semifinals in a strong performance.

Taylor, who runs his racing safety equipment company, Taylor Motorsports Products, in Anaheim, Calif., qualified his Randy Goodwin tuned machine in the No. 1 spot right off the trailer with a 5.798 second elapsed time at 244.56 mph. In round one, he defeated Ron August with a 5.940 at 236.03 mph. In his semifinal matchup with Mark Woznichak, Taylor appeared to be on his way to victory, but got loose just past half track and took out the half track mph cone, disqualifying him.

"This weekend was a really good weekend for the team," said Taylor. "All year, we knew the car had this kind of performance in it, but a number of things kept us from getting there. We just kept our head up and kept after it."

"When we got there on Friday, we didn't let the new track surface intimidate us," continued Taylor. "We didn't back the tune-up down; we left our normal deal in the car, and if it didn't work, we would adjust from there. It ended up working real well, and we qualified No. 1. To do that at a Division 7 event really means a lot to this whole team. In Division 7, any of the eight qualified cars can win the event, and even some of the cars that don't qualify are capable. In the semifinals, the track was 125 degrees and slick, and I just let the car get away from me a bit and took out a cone. I was trying to win the race and didn't want to lift. We'll bounce back from this, and we'll be ready to rock again."

The next event for the Taylor Motorsports team will be the Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., July 4-6.

-cwr-

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