TORC: Scott Taylor Perris summary

Taylor Perseveres Through Perris - Stays in Race for Championship

Belvidere, IL (June 1, 2008) - Fresh off his Round Two victory, Scott Taylor and his #8 Skyjacker ATD BFGoodrich Ford F-150 was looking to Perris keep the pressure on PRO-2WD points leader Ricky Johnson. With the assistance of Mike Kasch, Russ Wernimont and the West Coast pit crew. Taylor Racing's weekend looked very promising, but a missed chassis setup meant a missed opportunity.

The afternoon practice session saw the familiar red white and blue Skyjacker BFGoodrich Ford F-150 run some of the faster laps of the group. Taylor and his team were ready for the evening's main event.

As the sun set behind Lake Perris, the air temperature cooled down giving the .7-mile long stadium track different traction characteristics from the daytime. The changing track conditions caused the #8 Roush-Yates powered Skyjacker BFGoodrich F-150 to struggle for traction. At the finish, Taylor crossed the line in seventh place.

"It looks like we out guessed ourselves tonight," noted Scott Taylor. "We ran a harder compound looking to have a better tire at the end of the race. Unfortunately, it was too hard; we struggled with traction all night. I needed to search for other lines on the track, but I waited too late in the game to try. Everything else on the truck worked perfect. We will get back in the groove tomorrow night."

Before Round 4, the Taylor Racing crew made changes to the front shocks, the rear sway bar, and the tire compound.

The changes were spot on. The Skyjacker BFGoodrich Ford was very quick. After starting in row two, Scott was quickly challenging Jeremy McGrath for the second spot. Then a spin and a couple of miscues put the #8 Ford pack in the pack. At the finish, the six-time champion finished fifth.

"The changes we made were right on," remarked Scott Taylor. "I had a great race going until had an error in judgment. The BFGoodrich tires, the King shocks, the Roush-Yates engine, the ATD tranny, everything performed great tonight. I just got caught up in the moment and it cost the team a podium finish. Still, this is the best start to a race season for me in a few years."

This weekend Taylor racing had Russ Wernimont and his crew, Taylor Norris and Mike Hicks in the pits assisting Chief Mechanic Mike Kasch with the race prep at the track. These guys really came through and it's an asset to have such a great group that works so well together.

After four rounds of racing in the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL PRO-2WD Championship, Scott Taylor is currently in fourth place.

The television broadcast of all the weekend's PRO competition will be on ABC Sports, Sunday, June 7, at 5pm eastern.

Next race is at historic Crandon International Raceway, June 20-21, in Crandon, Wisconsin. The weekend of TORC racing will also include the Chairman's Cup Heavy Metal Shootout, the puts the fastest full-size two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive trucks together for an all out run for the one of the largest pay days of the year.

-credit: taylorracing