The 2015 season started on a consistent note for Taylor Ferns, as she competed in three events with the UNOH All Stars Circuit of Champion in Florida in February, finishing 11th or better in the trio of races, including an eighth-place effort in the season opener. Following a month and a half break, the Michigan native, who now calls the Indianapolis area home, will return to action this weekend at Attica Raceway Park in Ohio, with the All Stars for their traditional “Northern” opener. The series was scheduled to race at Atomic Speedway in Ohio last weekend, but that event fell to weather, as did the opener at Attica, originally scheduled for Friday, April 3.
The HD Supply Spring Nationals for the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions is now a one-night show at Attica Raceway Park on Saturday, April 4. A full night of racing will comprise both nights, beginning with hot laps, followed by time trials, heat races, a dash, B-main and A-Feature event.
“Living in Indiana and being near the race shop has helped quite a bit in allowing me to be able to stay in racing mode, even when we have a big break in the schedule,” said Ferns. “I’ve been watching a lot of You Tube videos and replays of the races from Ocala (Bubba Raceway Park) to see what I need to work on as a driver. I am definitely ready to get back to the track this weekend.”
Ferns made six appearances at Attica Raceway Park last season, aboard the Eco-Mend/Jimmy’s Towing Maxim, including two with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions. In her debut at the high-banked third-mile bullring last May, she led a number of laps in the feature event before a spin. Ferns finished 13th in a F.A.S.T. series event at Attica on July 18, which marked her best feature performance at the Northern Ohio track in 2014. On August 29, with the All Stars, she was sixth-fastest in time trials of the 30 entries and just missed transferring to the main event in both her heat race and the B-main.
“We have our fair share of experience at Attica,” she noted. “We raced there quite a few times last year and I know some of the things I need to pick up on and improve on. I have a lot of GoPro videos from there last year to look back at and reflect on. Using the videos as a refresher helps quite a bit and hopefully I can pick up where I left off last season.”
In the season opening Bubba Army Winternationals at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida in February, Ferns finished eighth in the main event on the first night, after timing in 11th-fastest and finishing second in a heat race, which put her in the dash, where she crossed the line sixth. On the second night at Bubba Raceway Park, she finished 11th in the A-Feature, after timing in 13th-quickest and finishing fourth in a heat race. The finale saw Ferns cross the line 11th again in the main event, following an 11th-place effort in qualifying and a third-place heat race finish.
“The car was good in Florida and there are still a few things to work on with it, as well as a few things I need to do with my driving,” Ferns explained. “I have never had as long of breaks as I’ve had this year, so I am anxious to get to the track and see how everything we’ve worked over the winter plays out. It will be good to get to Attica this weekend and let everything rip.”
The 2015 season marks the second consecutive year that Ferns will be racing exclusively in a winged sprint car. She returned to the discipline last season, after spending a number of years racing other types of open wheels machines and also stock cars. Ferns will compete with a variety of winged sprint car series across this Midwest this season. A full schedule is currently being finalized.
“Being consistent and winning races is what we are after this year,” said Ferns. “If you run up front, the good finishes will come and then the wins will come. We are going to be racing against some great competition this year, especially when we run with the All Stars. If we can be competitive with the All Stars, I know we can run up front and win anywhere.”
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.
- administrator on Apr 03, 2015
- Article Date: 4/3/2015