July 7, 2014

SCOTTIE TAYLOR CLINCHES FIRST VICTORY TO FOLLOW IN FATHERS FOOTSTEPS

At the PDRA Spring Open just a few short months ago, Frankie “Madman” Taylor rocked the world by being the first to break the 3.40 barrier. Taylor ran an astounding 3.485, quicker than the existing World Record. Taylor’s family and crew, including son Scottie, were there cheering him on. However, at the PDRA Summer Drags, it was the Madman’s turn to cheer from the starting line as he watched Scottie drive to the first win of his young career.

Eleven year old Scottie Taylor first got behind the wheel of his Top Junior Dragster in 2012. Scrawled across Taylor’s Half Scale dragster is “Nitemare,” a name quickly proving true among Scottie’s competition. Within his first year as race car driver, he made it to three finals. But it wasn’t until the PDRA Summer Drags at US 131 Motorsports Park that the youngest Taylor went to his fourth final and found his first victory.

Scottie qualified eighth at the Summer Drags with an 8.92 elapsed time at a tick over 74 MPH. This positioned him well on the competition

ladder. Once he got by Amber Franklin in round one, he had a bye into the semi finals. There he defeated Maximus Butcher and was set to face David Roloff in the final round. Scottie admitted to a few nerves, but they didn’t get the best of him. It was all Scottie, doing his driving job to turn on the win light. “I just kept cool, just tried to keep my nerves down,” he said of the minutes leading up to the final round. Once it was over and Scottie had his first win under his belt he simply said the win felt “pretty good.”

For someone who will start fifth grade in the fall, winning a national-level competition must feel “pretty good,” indeed. Although the youngster co
uld easily boast about his family name and the notoriety that goes along with it, Scottie, while clearly proud of his father’s accomplishments, doesn’t let it go to his head. “I just think I’m a regular kid. Just ‘cause my dad’s famous doesn’t really change me.”

If Scottie keeps up his winning ways, Frankie Taylor may not be be only well known name in the family. Eventually, Scottie hopes to follow in his dad’s footsteps and compete in Pro Extreme. For now, he’s happy to race Huddleston Performance Top Junior Dragster, honing his bracket racing skills.

Scottie would like to thank: his family, Benji Lapp with SnapOn Tools, his teammate Cole Isbell, and Renegade Oil. “I had to really work for this win,” he said. “I couldn’t do this without my team. After three runner ups we finally got a win!”

As in any level of drag racing, friends and competitors are often one and the same. Scottie says it’s tough to line up against his friends, and especially his teammate Cole, but still enjoys the competition, stating it’s his favorite thing about racing. The Texas family will continue to run the PDRA series where both Frankie and Scottie hope to continue their winning ways. Scottie also competes with the Southwest Junior Dragster Series, running a hefty schedule for someone his age. It’s in his blood, though, and Scottie Taylor wouldn’t have it any other way.


Photo Credits: Gary Rowe / RaceWorks.com / PDRA66.com