INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — October 9, 2014 —Taylor Ferns has expanded her horizons quite a bit this season, venturing full-on into the world of 410-winged sprint car racing. She will add another item to her resume this weekend as she makes her first-career 360-winged sprint car start, along with also competing in her familiar 410-winged machine. Ferns will begin the weekend in her 360-winged sprint car at Waynesfield Raceway Park in Ohio, before hopping in her 410-car for a visit on Saturday night to the famed Eldora Speedway, also in Ohio. Both races will mark her debut with Eco-Mend adorning the top wing as the primary sponsor on her No. 55F.
On Friday, October 10, Ferns will compete in the Second Annual Harvest of Sprints, a non-sanctioned 360-sprint car race, at Waynesfield Raceway Park. She will then race in the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions portion of the Sprintacular at Eldora on Saturday, October 11.
Ferns has made one appearance at Waynesfield Raceway Park this season, with that coming during Ohio Sprint Speedweek. She timed in 27th-quickest of the 45 entries in that event, while battling fueling issues. Ferns would finish 10th in her heat race, which put her in the B-main. The native of Shelby Township, Michigan, who now calls the Indianapolis area home, would finish her night in the eighth position in the B-main.
“It’s kind of ironic that we are running our first 360 race at Waynesfield, because that is where we shook down our 410 cars before the season,” said Ferns. “Obviously a 360-sprint car does not have as much power as a 410, so it will take a little getting used to, because you are going a little bit slower. The main goal for Friday is to make sure the car is put together well and try to have a solid finish. It will also be our first race with the Eco-Mend colors on the car, so we want to have a great weekend for them.”
The 18-year-old made her first-career 410-winged sprint car start at Eldora last month during the Four-Crown Nationals. The event also marked her debut with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. Ferns began the night by clocking in 29th-fastest at the high-banked half-mile oval. She finished eighth in a star-studded heat race that included five-time series champion and current series point leader Donny Schatz, as well as 20-time series kingpin Steve Kinser, along with Shane Stewart, Brad Sweet and Rico Abreu. Ferns finished 10th in the B-main to wrap up the evening.
“Going back to Eldora, I know what I have to work on there as a driver,” she noted. “Racing against the Outlaws at a place like that teaches you a lot and I feel like I should be better this time around. We’ve raced with the All Stars a number of times this year, so we know how tough the competition is with them and we’ll have to be on our game.”
Ferns was scheduled to compete at Atomic Speedway in Ohio, last weekend, but that event was rained out. In her most recent start at Fremont Speedway in Ohio, on September 27, she charged from the 16th starting spot to finish eighth.
“Being at the race shop every day, helps me stay focused and I don’t really have any outside distractions,” said Ferns, when asked about how she deals with rainouts. “Watching my GoPro in-car videos and keeping up with what is going helps me keep my head in the game as well. After no races last weekend, it will be a plus to have two this weekend.”
Ferns has one win this season, with that coming in an Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association race at Southern Ohio Speedway in June. She has eight top-10 finishes in a limited number of starts.
Following this weekend, Ferns will compete in a pair of multi-night events to wrap up her 2014 season, first at Atomic Speedway in the inaugural Open Wheel Championships for the Renegade Sprint Series, and then with World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in the World Finals in Charlotte.
Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing would like to thank their valued partners: Eco-Mend, 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.
