CORR: Scott Taylor Crandon II summary

Taylor Racing Has a Tough Time in Crandon

Scott Taylor was looking forward to the return trip to Crandon International Off-Road Raceway. The spring race saw Scott and his #8 Skyjacker Suspension BFGoodrich Tires Ford F-150 dominate both rounds of racing and was the highest finishing PRO-2 in the Chairman's Cup race. Taylor Racing was hoping to get back to its winning ways at their favorite track.

Friday afternoon Scott Taylor had the fastest lap for a PRO-2 competitor during the Nismo Time Trials for the BorgWarner Shootout. The put the #8 Skyjacker truck on the pole for the biggest race in short course off-road racing. His lap time of 1minute 27.7seconds around the 1.5 mile track had an average speed of 60.34 mph.

Saturday
Round 11 -- Skyjacker Suspension PRO-2

The land rush start saw Scott Taylor come out of Potawatomi Turn One in fourth place right behind #7 Scott Douglas. The entire 9-lap race saw Taylor challenge Douglas for the position several times, with both trucks seesawing for position. At the finish Scott Taylor came home in fourth place.

Sunday
Round 12 -- Ford Trucks PRO-2

After a fourth place finish the day before, Taylor Racing was looking to lead the sixteen truck field to the checkered flag. The start saw Scott grab the holeshot and take the lead into Turn One. Scott had the entire truck working perfectly together. The Skyjacker engineered suspension, the BFGoodrich tires, and the Roush Performance engine had Scott leading the field without a challenge in sight. Suddenly, without warning, on the fifth lap, Scott pulled into the pits, ending his race. The yoke at the rear of the transmission that bolts to the driveshaft broke. It is a part failure Taylor Racing has never experienced.

Nevertheless, the crew immediately went to work getting the #8 Ford F-150 ready the BorgWarner Shootout. Quickly the yoke was replaced, and a new ring and Precision Gear ring and pinion was installed. The team was still very confident for a strong finish for the richest event in short course off-road racing, the BorgWarner Shootout.

12th Annual BorgWarner World Championship Manufacturers' Shootout

This unique event pits PRO-2 (two wheel drive) against PRO-4 (four wheel drive) trucks in a 10-lap shootout. The winner of the event can take home over $25,000 in less than 15 minutes. The top qualifying eight PRO-2 trucks get a quarter mile head start on the sixteen PRO-4 trucks. The fastest of the PRO-2 trucks was Scott Taylor. In fact, Scott is the only PRO-2 driver to ever to win this event, as well finishing as the top PRO-2 driver several times.

The start saw Scott fall in behind #41 Jerry Whelchel. The first two laps saw the two Taylor-Built trucks battle for the lead. On lap three the #7 PRO-4 truck of Scott Douglas made the pass on both trucks and took the lead. During the same lap, Scott radioed that he was coming in to replace a rear tire that was going flat. Quickly the Taylor Racing crew went into action. The tire was replaced and Scott headed back onto the track. Unfortunately, this put #8 Skyjacker Suspension BFGoodrich Tires Ford F-150 one lap down. At the finish, Scott was awarded thirteenth place.

After the final race Scott Taylor commented, "We came here very optimistic, looking to gain some ground on the points leader. Unfortunately luck didn't come our way. We ran up front, but just couldn't close the deal. Just when we think the new truck bugs are all worked out, they come back and bite you. The final four rounds of racing in San Diego will be all out, nothing will be held back!"

With twelve of sixteen rounds of racing completed, Scott Taylor is in sixth place in the 2006 CORR PRO-4 championship standings, only twenty-seven points out of the lead. With eighty points still available (twenty points for winning each round), the top thirteen drivers in the standings still have a shot at the 2006 championship.

-credit: taylorsoffroadracing.com