SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — May 15, 2014 — Momentum is an intangible that often proves elusive for a racer, but once corralled, can carry a driver for extended periods of time. Taylor Ferns has been building momentum for the last few weeks in her 410-winged sprint car, including leading laps in both of the races she competed in last weekend, while earning a podium finish. The 18-year-old looks to carry that momentum into this weekend’s Hall of Fame Classic for the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
The Hall of Fame Classic, the second race of the 2014 season for the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series, is set for Saturday, May 17 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. A pair of practice sessions will precede time trials, which will set the field for the 100-lap main event. The race will be the first on pavement this season for Ferns, who pilots the Motor City Transport Inc. No 35.
“I’m used to going back and forth between the dirt and pavement, so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal this weekend,” said Ferns. “The pavement kind of comes naturally for me, because that’s what I started racing on when I was in quarter midgets. Hopefully I can get my rhythm down quick and we can get a solid finish.”
Ferns made three starts at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis last season, earning a pair of top-10 finishes. She was a season-best fourth with the Honda USAC National Midget Series in July, and was also 10th on that same night with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series in the J.D. Byrider 100. Ferns also raced at the track in the Night Before the 500 with the Honda USAC National Midget Series in 2013, finishing 13th.
The native of Shelby Township, Michigan, made her first two starts at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 2012, competing in a doubleheader with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series and Honda USAC National Midget Series during the track’s annual “Speedfest” weekend in July. She finished 14th in the Midget race and was 15th with the Silver Crown Series.
“In the 100-lap Silver Crown races, a lot of people say it’s 50 laps mental and 50 laps physical,” Ferns explained. “With a longer race, you definitely have to be in good shape, and I have been hitting the gym hard every day. I’ve been doing a lot of ‘Cross-fit,’ and, believe it or not, have been doing quite a bit of yoga as well. That seems to help with stamina, especially for a 100-lap race. Being fit is a big aspect of racing and one that I really enjoy.”
At Butler Motor Speedway last Saturday night, Ferns led a number of laps in the 410-winged sprint car feature and wound up taking the checkered flag third to earn her best finish of the season. She opened the night by winning the second heat race at the three-eighths-mile dirt track in southern Michigan.
Last Friday night, Ferns made her debut at Attica Raceway Park in Ohio, aboard the Jimmy’s Towing/Indy Race Parts Maxim, and paced the field as well during the early portion of the feature, before a spin. She restarted and charged back through the field before a second spin. She would be scored 14th in the final rundown. Ferns opened the night by finishing third in her heat race.
“I feel like everything is really coming together with the winged car,” said Ferns. “To be leading laps in only my third and fourth winged sprint car starts of the year was great. I feel like once we get the monkey off our back and get that first win of the year all the stars will align, so to speak. We’ve had some strong runs and that certainly gives me confidence going into this weekend.”
Ferns will contest the full Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series schedule this season. She will also race in various 410-winged sprint car races across Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, as well in select Honda USAC National Midget Series races on the dirt.
Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing would like to thank their valued partners: Jimmy’s Towing Recovery & Transport, Indy Race Parts, Motor City Auto Transport Inc., National Auto Placement, Project Podium, Women’s Sports Foundation, Lyn St. James Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, FK Rod Ends, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Lansing Sanitary Supply (LSS), Simpson Race Products, ButlerBuilt, Allstar Performance, Stanton Racing Engines, Hoosier Tire Midwest, 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 2014 schedule, visit TaylorFerns.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at @TaylorFerns and like her on Facebook.
