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Dennis Taylor Sonoma preview

Taylor looking to sweep Western Swing SONOMA, Calif. - Just one week after winning his second career national event, NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Dennis Taylor and his Plumbing Concepts backed team will be looking to make it a clean sweep of ...

Published: Jul 30, 2004, 9:00 PM

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Taylor looking to sweep Western Swing

SONOMA, Calif. - Just one week after winning his second career national event, NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Dennis Taylor and his Plumbing Concepts backed team will be looking to make it a clean sweep of the NHRA Western Swing during this weekend's Fram-Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Taylor used backbreaking consistency to win last weekend's CARQUEST Nationals in Seattle, and hopes to find that same consistency this weekend.

Taylor, who runs his racing safety equipment company, Taylor Motorsports Products in Anaheim, Calif., is quick to credit his team lead by veteran tuner Ora Vasquez for the team's success this year.

"I really feel like I got the best team out there," said Taylor. "Ora just has so much experience and practical knowledge on these cars, it's just unbelievable. My crew under his lead just works like a well-oiled machine; there's a lot of synergy there. When you got a team like that, all I have to do is worry about getting the car down the track. As consistent as they have the car now, I really don't have to worry about 'if' it's going to get down either."

"From the start of the year, this team's main focus has been consistency, and it's paid off," Taylor continued. "We came in last weekend in qualifying, made it down the track every lap, and got quicker every lap, so I think there's a lot to be said there. I've always been told it takes one lucky round to win a race, and we got that break in the semi's against Gasparrelli. The car just died about 3/4 track, so I just put the clutch in, and expected him to come flying by me. He never did and we turned on the win light. I couldn't believe it!"

Despite noting last weekend's win was tough, Taylor feels this weekend will prove to be even tougher.

"There were some tough cars out last weekend, but there will be even more this weekend," explained Taylor. "All the tough cars that were in Seattle will be in Sonoma, plus a few more tough cars that didn't go. Regardless of who's there, we're just going to try to run our own race and focus on our consistency. Hopefully we can put it in the winner's circle for our great sponsor Plumbing Concepts and our great group of associate sponsors in invigor8 Energy Drink, Valvoline, Mickey Thompson Tires, Metro Moulded Parts, Shaker Shirts, Ultimate Designs, Bear State Heat and Air, Adam's Polishes and Taylor Motorsport Products."

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two sessions, and will continue on Saturday with one final session. Eliminations begin with round one on Saturday evening, and will conclude on Sunday.

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