Scott Taylor Takes Two in Minnesota

(Belvidere, IL) – May 23, 2007 - The opening weekend of the 2007 Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing saw Scott Taylor come to Owatonna, Minnesota with a brand new PRO-2WD truck for the 2008 season. Taylor Racing had built a new truck for 2007, but Scott and his crew decided to take advantage of some lessons learned from the 2007 season, and build another Ford F-150. Scott called upon Russ Wernimont, once again, to aid in the design of the new truck.

“Russ and I began talking immediately after the final race of the year,” commented Scott Taylor. “I knew we could lighten up the truck. Russ had some different thoughts on the front suspension as well. So we got together, just after Thanksgiving, and went to work.”

The new truck was put through its initial paces, behind the Taylor Racing shop, just a week before the season opener. After some minor changes, Scott was confident his latest build would keep him at the top of his game.

Friday Practice
Scott brought the #8 Skyjacker BFGoodrich Tires Ford F-150 out for its first real test session. The five laps of practice went well, in fact, Scott recorded the fast lap of the day, 54.48 seconds (56.165mph), on the .8-mile track.

Saturday – Round One
When the green flag dropped, the field charged down the Steele County Fairgrounds front straightaway with Mike Oberg out front, Kevin Probst second, and Scott Taylor in third place.

By lap 3, the BFGoodrich Tires really put the Roush Performance horsepower to the ground as Scott moved into the lead. On lap 9, with Evan Evans right on his tail, without any warning, Scott’s truck lost grip, and spun out. Somehow Scott kept the truck off the concrete wall, and headed in the right direction. This put the Skyjacker Ford F-150 in second place. Just ahead of the #99 of Kevin Probst.

With three laps to go, Evans began having transmission problems, intermittently slowing his truck. This allowed Scott to retake the lead and hold it to the finish. Mike Oberg came home second and Kevin Probst in third.

Saturday Evening
As Mike Kasch, Doug Mahurin, and Alan Brenner prepped the truck for Sunday, the crew discovered several broken teeth on the ring gear of the differential. Once a new differential was installed, Scott and Mike decided on a few setup changes on the shocks and springs.
 

“The truck really wasn’t handling the way I’d like it to,” commented Scott Taylor. “The changes we made in the suspension setup really made it a handful to drive. Somehow we turned the fastest lap of the weekend. I really don’t know how we did that. Overall, I’m really proud of this new truck. It does everything the way it’s suppose to. I need to get a little more comfortable inside the cockpit. Move the seat up and the steering wheel over slightly. Once that’s done we’ll go even faster.”