Taylor, Crew to Drive No. 21 Super X Car
Taylor to Race Trucks Part-Time
Todd Taylor of Stonington, CT is going to repay those who helped him last season: Pete Pollard, Chris Taylor, and his brother Randy. With his wife expecting their second child, Taylor will run the Super X season opener and finale at New London-Waterford (CT) Speedbowl.
“The guys on the crew are all going to get the chance to drive the car,” Taylor said. “I think it’s a great way to reward them for all the great help that they’ve given me.”
“They wanted me to try to run for a championship … If we did run this year I think that we’d have a great shot at winning….(I) can’t do it this year. My wife just went above and beyond last year to make everything work for me and to make pretty much all the races except for two, and I can’t do that to her again this year with two children.”
Taylor finished eighth in his New England Truck Series debut last October at Thompson (CT) Speedway Motorsports Park. His goals this year are top five finishes. Taylor hopes to enter his truck in races at New London-Waterford as his sponsors are based in New London County. His sponsors include Buttermore Plumbing of Uncasville, Hayes Services, Family First Life, Darling Auto Parts, the Tire Store in East Lyme, Yankee Peddler and Pawn, Post Road Market of East Lyme, Coastline Fire Protection, Dawley Collision and Custom, and Critical Signs.
“We’re really excited about the truck. We actually did a lot better than we anticipated when we went to Thompson. My main goal was just to stay on the lead lap … That was kind of surprising for us.”
“The truck thing kind of fell right into our lap. It was a good price and it was a good truck. A lot of people tried buying it but weren’t successful. We just got lucky, I think, and we got it, and we’re really looking forward to the upcoming year.””
Taylor is waiting for rules to be announced this week before working on the Truck. The Super X car is getting a new clip at B&H Racing.
His first full season at New London-Waterford (CT) Speedbowl seventh in Super X-Car points. He had 2 wins, 10 top fives, 13 top tens in 16 starts. His best run was six consecutive top fives from July 16-August 20.
“We were really consistent. …I think we surprised a lot of people. It was fun.”
Taylor’s father passed away last winter. His father drove for the likes of Don Caddick and Angie Cerese. Taylor played Little League baseball and his mother drove him to watch his father race in the Bombers at New London-Waterford. His father constantly raced and Taylor said he was in the grandstands at one-month-old.
“It was just like a ritual and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Taylor got back into the sport about seven years ago helping Mike Maskell. He built his car with Randy and Al Morgillo. Taylor “rode around” the second half of 2014 before his strong showing in 2015.
Taylor credits veteran driver Peter Pollard of Oakdale, CT for improving his program. Pollard’s changes made the car easier for Taylor to drive.
“Once we joined up with Pete Pollard over at B&H Racing, it just started taking off. He explained things a lot more to me and he and I have a great rapport. … He’s talking about chassis setups and all this other stuff that I didn’t even know.”
Taylor’s experience was Late Models and Modifieds weekly on NASCAR Racing 2003 Season. He estimates he’s won 200 races. Taylor feels the years of experience online helped prepare him. It helped him develop a rhythm, hitting his marks for the corner.
“I kind of had an idea what was going on like the first time I was out there a lot of people are like ‘Oh the caution’s out. Where do I slow down? Where I fil in?’ That was all like second nature at the time when I went out there because of all the sim racing. It clarified everything.”
New London-Waterford operated its midweek program on Thursday nights instead of Wednesdays. It benefitted Taylor as his wife was able to attend more events. He has high praise for new owner Bruce Bemer and General Manager Shawn Monahan.
“A key vital point to that whole racetrack was when (Shawn) Monahan got involved because I don’t think you’re going to find another person that’s gonna put his blood, sweat, and tears in that place like him. I think he’s a vital part of all the people he has surrounded himself with. It’s really nice having someone like Bruce Bemer who can see the future of the place and is willing to actually invest in the track and like they’re making improvements to the walls and stuff like that. (It is) just great to see the track moving forward after being in limbo.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com