1/17/2018
Inside Line Promotions
Taylor Produces Best Chili Bowl Outing of His Young Career
Inside Line Promotions – TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 17, 2018) – The little team that could sums up last week’s experience for Zac Taylor at the 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
In only his third ever Chili Bowl attempt, the teenager made it into a Saturday C Main, which is quite the accomplishment considering there were nearly 350 competitors at the event, including multi-car teams with NASCAR stars behind the wheel.
The marquee midget event, held inside the River Spirit Expo Center, divided competitors into four qualifying nights. Taylor competed last Wednesday, Jan. 10, against nearly 90 other drivers. A pill draw started him last in his heat race with passing points awarded in addition to the finishing position. Taylor stormed to a fourth-place showing, putting him in a qualifier where he earned more points.
“The heat was the key to the entire week,” he said. “I concentrated on hitting my marks and keeping my nose clean. Todd (Henry, the car owner) gave me an outstanding car. I was able to make passes. My crew guys told me I was the second-fastest car on the track.”
Taylor rolled off second in the qualifier and he held his own.
“The car was just so good,” he said. “All I had to do was not make mistakes and at least hold on to second.”
Taylor accumulated enough points to lock into Wednesday’s A Main, a feat he had never accomplished.
“When I went up to the lineup board and saw I made the A .... it’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” he said. “For a low-budget team like ours to make the feature against the equipment and talent that’s here is amazing.”
Taylor faded toward the back early before calming himself and focusing on hitting his marks. He stayed out of trouble while charging to a 12th-place result, which locked him into a C Main on Saturday.
“To know I was in a C Main was such a confidence booster,” he said. “Not to have to worry about having to get to the track first thing Saturday morning, that I would get to race in front of the TV cameras … what a feeling.”
Taylor rolled off fourth in the C Main and he needed to finish in the top four to transfer to a B Main.
“I immediately got to third,” he said. “Once again my car was outstanding. I went into a corner and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. checked up. I had nearly run over him several times. I hit the brakes and lost tire speed. I hit the cushion and packed the right rear with mud. It vibrated really bad and slowed me down. I was so angry with myself, I didn’t perform the rest of the race like I should have.
“Still, it was really cool to get to race on TV. I had so many friends and family Snap Chatting my name from TV. Todd had people he hadn’t talked to in years telling him congratulations. It was so encouraging having all the people rallying behind us.”
Taylor ended eighth and he said the key to the great Chili Bowl performance was bringing the familiar Henry Motorsports car to the event. In past years Taylor leased a midget ride.
“To come here with Todd and my dad – those who have worked with me the past two summers – was such a comfort,” he said. “When you are that comfortable and confident in the car good things are going to happen. It took so much pressure off me.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Jan. 10 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – Heat race: 4 (8); Qualifier: 2 (2); Feature: 12 (13).
Jan. 13 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – C Main: 8 (4).
MEDIA LINKS –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zac-Taylor-Racing/176561235888527
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zac86taylor
Website: http://www.zactaylorracing.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA1su-PDXOb8wWUoLAw_POQ/videos
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – SuperClean
SuperClean was formed on the foundation of two core values: 1. To help people keep the things they love clean and functional. 2. To supply a powerful product that saves time and energy so people can get back to doing the things they love. SuperClean products can be used on automotive parts like engines, underbodies, small parts, wheels and more; outdoor equipment, such as tools, grills and lawn equipment; recreation vehicles, including boats, RVs, bikes, fishing rods, golf clubs and more; and indoor appliances, such as carpets, showers and tubs and even laundry. For more information, visit http://www.SuperClean.com.
“We handed out a ton of SuperClean products during the Chili Bowl,” Taylor said. “We are building a fantastic relationship and I look forward to carrying their banner throughout 2018.”
Taylor would also like to thank H&H Resurfacing, GatorStake, Open Season Construction, Redline Performance Roofing & Roof Coating Systems, Unique Signs and Designs, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, the Kaiser Family, Pro Shocks, Triple X Racing Company and Hoosier Racing Tires for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
