SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — June 24, 2014 — Ohio Sprint Speedweek is a great way to get extra seat time and visit new tracks, all within a condensed timeframe and within reasonable travel distance. That is the approach for Taylor Ferns this week as she’ll race in at least two and possibly three events that comprise the mini-series in the Buckeye State for the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions.
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Ferns, who drives the Jimmy’s Towing/Indy Race Parts Maxim, will compete at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe on Wednesday, June 25, as well at Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima on Friday, June 27. A visit to Fremont Speedway on Thursday, June 26, is also being considered.
“Racing a few times this week will be really beneficial to me,” said Ferns. “The more seat time you get the better and the more it helps your program. With us returning to the winged car this year, all the laps we can get are important. I am really looking forward to being in the car, with just a day or two in between, as opposed to having a week or two off, like we’ve have a couple times this season.”
Ferns has made three starts at the three-eighths-mile Atomic Speedway thus far in 2014, and has a best finish of sixth on May 3. The winningest female driver in USAC history earned her first-career 410-winged sprint car win last month at Southern Ohio Speedway with the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association. She has four top-10 finishes in eight 410-winged sprint car starts this season.
“I have quite a few laps at Atomic (Speedway) this season and feel more and more comfortable each time we go there, so hopefully that helps us, especially early in the night,” she noted. “With the All Stars, qualifying is very important. A large part of that is the luck of the draw at the beginning of the night. If you draw a good number and are able to go out early and put down a good lap that is a big advantage. That will usually work towards your advantage later in the night.”
Ferns will be making her debut at Limaland Motorsports Park, a quarter-mile in Northern Ohio. The bullring is owned and operated by the University of Northwestern Ohio
“Racing at a bullring like Limaland (Motorsports Park) puts it back in the driver’s hands,” she explained. “I’ve heard quite a bit about Limaland and how racy the track is. I’ll study up and do my homework by watching some videos online, so that I am ready when we get there and have an idea of the layout and configuration of the track.”
Ferns made her Ohio Sprint Speedweek debut on Sunday, June 22 at Waynesfield Raceway Park. With a stout 45-car field in attendance, the native of Shelby Township, Michigan, timed in 27th-fastest. She started seventh in a stacked third heat race that included Hall of Famers Dave Blaney and Jac Haudenschild, as well as veterans Randy Hannagan and Stevie Smith. Ferns finished 10th in that eight-lap contest, which put her in the B-main. She would both start and finish eighth in the B-main, coming up a few spots short of earning a position in the main event.
“We struggled with the fueling of the car early in the day and that put us behind the eight-ball,” said Ferns. “We learned a lot and that was our main goal, so we came away with some good information for the next race. We also know how the All Stars format works and having a night under our belts, which helps.”
Ferns was scheduled to compete in the Ohio Sprint Speedweek opener on Friday, June 20 at Attica Raceway Park, but that event was rained out.
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.
