SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — September 11, 2014 — Ohio has a handful of “must-see” events for 410-winged sprint cars each season. The Jim Ford Classic at Fremont Speedway in certainly one of those races. Named after former Fremont Speedway Promoter, the late Jim Ford, the two-night event was born in 2007, and has continued to grow each and every year. Taylor Ferns, who has competed in some of the biggest events in Midget and Silver Crown Racing will add the Jim Ford Classic to her resume this weekend, as the first marquee 410-winged sprint car event she has competed in since returning to the discipline, after spending the previous three-plus seasons in a variety of different race cars.
The Jim Ford Classic for the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions is set for Friday September 12 and Saturday, September 13. Each night will open with hot laps, followed by time trials, heat races and an A-Feature event on the quarter-mile oval, located at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds.
“Each time we got back to Fremont, I feel like we are getting better and better,” said Ferns. “The first time we went there we struggled and the last time we made some progress. There are still a few things we need to work on there, but I think we’ll be a bit better than we were last time there. We took last weekend off to regroup to prepare for this weekend. Hopefully that pays off and we can have a good run and gain a little momentum late in the season.”
Ferns has made two appearances at Fremont Speedway in 2014 in the Jimmy’s Towing/Indy Race Parts Maxim. She made her debut at the northern Ohio oval on July 5, and just missed qualifying for the main event. She returned to Fremont on August 9, coming home 16th in the A-Feature. Ferns finished second in the first heat race that night, after qualifying 16th-fastest. She was also scheduled to race at Fremont on July 26, but that event was rained out. The Jim Ford Classic will mark her eighth appearance with the All Stars this season.
“Time trials will be important both nights, as it always is when you race with the All Stars,” she shared. “Running those two laps as hard as you can is the key, no matter if you go out early in the order or late. You don’t want to leave anything on the table in time trials. A good pill draw definitely helps with that as well.”
Ferns most recently competed in the Attica Ambush with the All Stars at Attica Raceway Park in Ohio on August 29–30. She qualified sixth-fastest of the 30 entries on Friday, August 29. She finished seventh in the second heat race, which put her in the B-main, where she came home sixth, just two sports shy of transferring to the main event. On Saturday, August 30, Ferns finished sixth in the third heat race, missing a transfer spot by one position. In the B-main, she crossed the line eighth, with just the top-four moving on to the A-Feature.
This weekend, the opening night of the Jim Ford Classic will be 30 laps in distance, while the finale will be 50 circuits. That will mark the longest sprint car race of the season for Ferns.
“At a place like Fremont 50 laps goes by quick, but also 50 laps is a pretty long race, so you have take care of your equipment for the end,” said Ferns. “Staying on the lead lap is important as well as you are in traffic most of the time there and can get caught up behind some cars or put in some tough spots, so staying on top of things and paying close attention for all 50 laps is a must.”
Ferns has one victory in a 410-winged sprint car this season, with that coming on June 6 at Southern Ohio Speedway with the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association. In regional competition across the Midwest this season, she has recorded seven top-10 finishes, as well as several strong qualifying efforts, including turning the sixth-fastest lap of the 62 entries that were at Atomic Speedway for the Ohio Sprint Speedweek show at the high-banked three-eighths-mile in June.
The 2011 USAC D1 Midget Series champion tentatively has around 15 races remaining on her schedule this season, including competing in the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in November.
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.
