SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich.—June 28, 2013 — Doubleheaders always invoke a sense of excitement and a bit of nostalgia in baseball. Same goes for racing, as doubleheaders are not quite as prevalent as they used to be. For the USAC Traxxas Silver Crown and Honda USAC National Midget Series a trio of doubleheaders are part of the 2013 campaign, and Taylor Ferns is slated to compete in each of the three events. The first of these twin bills is this weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado.
The Rocky Mountain Classic for the USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series and Honda USAC National Midget Pavement Championship is set for Saturday, June 29. A 100-lap event is scheduled for the USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series, while the Honda USAC National Midget Pavement Championship will contest a 25-lapper on the one-mile paved oval.
“Having two races and twice as much seat time will definitely provide a great opportunity to get the feel for the track and used to it,” said Ferns. “I haven’t had a lot of experience going between the Silver Crown car and a Midget on the same day, so that will be a good learning experience. It will definitely take a little getting used to, especially on a track that big, but I’m up for it and hopefully will get up to speed quick.”
Ferns will be making her second USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series start of the season aboard the No. 35 for Team 6R Racing. She raced in the Hoosier 100 on the dirt last month in Indianapolis. Last season she made three Silver Crown starts on the pavement, finishing a season-best 10th at the seven-eighths-mile Iowa Speedway, in her first-ever series start. Pikes Peak will mark the biggest pavement track she has competed on in an open wheel car.
“I’ve been used to running longer races this year with the ARCA car and the Silver Crown race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds,” noted the 2011 USAC D1 Midget Series champion. “I think I have adapted pretty well and am now used to running longer races. It’s a little tougher in the midget, because you have 25 or so laps and just about as the race is over, I feel like I am getting going.”
Ferns has made three starts with the Honda USAC Nation Midget Pavement Championship in 2013 in her family-owned No. 55 Motor City Auto Transport Inc. Beast. She opened the season at the half-mile New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, and also competed in the Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, which is a 0.686-mile oval. The 17-year-old finished 11th on the second night at New Smyrna and was 13th at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
“The biggest track I’ve raced a midget on has been Lucas Oil Raceway (at Indianapolis), so it will be something new going to Pikes Peak, with how big of a track that is,” she shared. “Like I said, having raced the ARCA cars this year and having been in a bunch of different cars should help me adapt a lot easier. Talking to my crew chief Tracy Hines will help as well, because he’s been there in the past and will be racing this weekend as well.”
Last weekend, the native of Shelby Township, Mich., competed at Angell Park Speedway in Wisconsin, in a tri-sanctioned event with the Honda USAC National Midget Series, POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association. She qualified 16th, which put her on the front row of the first 10-lap heat race. Ferns would win that heat race to earn a spot in the 30-lap Sue Thiel Memorial. A couple of broken during the main event forced her to pull in, thus ending her night early.
Entering competition this weekend, Ferns is 10th in points with the Honda USAC National Midget Pavement Championship, with three races in the books. She also has made three starts with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, finishing ninth in her series debut in March at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama, after qualifying fifth.
Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing would like to thank their valued partners: Motor City Auto Transport Inc., National Auto Placement, FK Rod Ends, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Lansing Sanitary Supply (LSS), Simpson Race Products, Indy Race Parts, ButlerBuilt, Allstar Performance,Stanton Racing Engines, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Lyn St. James Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, Race4Girls and Racing2Cure.
Keep up to date
For the latest news, results and information on Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing and to view a full 2013 schedule, visit TaylorFerns.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at @TaylorFerns and like her on Facebook.
