USAR: BUSCH: Taylor Motorsports closes racing operations

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., (October 9, 2001) -- Taylor Motorsports Team Owner George Taylor announced today that the team would close its racing operations effective immediately.

"In the wake of the September 11th tragedy, we have found that companies and potential sponsors that we had been talking with have become very sensitive about coming on board to sponsor a race team," Taylor said.

"Our plan was to run Hal Goodson in the NASCAR Busch Series next season, but the companies that had committed in August to sponsor the team have changed their marketing strategies due to the current economic and political concerns in the world," Taylor added. "Their change in direction forces us to make unfortunate, but necessary changes as well."

"This was a very difficult decision to make," Taylor said. "But when looking at the big picture, it would not have made smart business sense to continue to run the race team in the Busch Series without a sponsor."

"I made this decision to close the team now so everyone would have ample time to begin to look for another job," Taylor added. "This is the time of year when positions become open with race teams and racing-related companies. It would not have been fair to our employees to make this decision after the race season was over because a lot of the jobs would have already been filled."

"We will be working closely with everyone on this race team to help find them jobs within the racing industry," Taylor said.

-Taylor Motorsports-