DICKINSON, TX (May 25, 2010) – The 19 hours of travel time did not keep Taylor Racing from running with the best of the best at the Speedtech U.S. Drags III ADRL race in Petersburg Virginia this past weekend.  “After a very strong outing in Valdosta last month, we knew our car was up to the challenge” said Frankie Taylor. 

After qualifying second on his first try, Frankie ran 3.651-seconds at 205.85 mph in the heat of the day to elevate him into the top qualifying spot.  After failing to back up a 3.65 potential ET record in Georgia last month, he now had another opportunity to do so at Virginia Motorsports Park.  The large capacity of spectators was excited to witness Frankie deliver a stellar 3.607-seconds at 208.71 mph while barely avoiding a collision with the wall and shutting down early.  Besides being the quickest and fastest pass ever, it was better than his last run which automatically made the previous ET officially backed up.  Frankie “Mad Man” Taylor is now the “The World’s Quickest Doorslammer” in the eighth mile with his previous 3.651-seconds.     

The cooler temperature and overcast sky on Saturday morning gave hope to several other teams that were in a strong position to challenge our current ET world record.  Our Haning Racing sponsored Corvette ran 3.634-seconds at 207.78 mph which backed up the previous 208.71 mph to become the new speed world record.  At the same time, it backed up the 3.607-seconds which lowered our current ET world record.  Shortly afterwards, Wes Johnston backed up his previous run with a 211.69 mph pass to take away our speed world record.  Since the Taylor Racing Team tunes Wild Wes’ car, we were very pleased to lose this record to our teammates at Haning Racing.

The Texas team of LenMar Motorsports with Gaylen Smith behind the wheel stepped up in the second round of eliminations with a strong run of 3.693-seconds at 205.82 mph in a close but losing effort against our 3.654-seconds at 207.08 mph.  The competition in the semi-finals was equally tough with the Fight Me MMA car driven by Joshua Hernandez.  It was a losing effort on our behalf, with a 3.654-seconds at 207.24 mph against his 3.646-seconds at 208.68 mph.  The fastest side by side pass in ADRL history and definitely an exciting close drag race.  “If you told me this week that we would cut a 0.027 tree with a 3.654-seconds pass and have to load the car on the trailer, I would have called you a liar”, said crew chief and brother Paul Taylor.

Congrats to the Sheikh on his first ADRL Minuteman trophy. 

With our crew being led by Paul Taylor and Billy Stocklin, the Jeffers built 2005 C5 Corvette could not make it to the lanes without a tremendous amount of effort by the entire Taylor Racing Team.  Your help is so greatly appreciated along with the sacrifice our families make each week.  Thank you - Cindy Taylor, Mick “Sidekick” Terry, Kenny “Church” Cunningham, Derek “T-Shirt Guy” Bera, Wayne “Lil’Paul” Taylor and Kenny Muzny.

Special thanks to our sponsors:  Haning Racing, Aguygen, Anglia Homes, Baudier Graphics, Conrad Racing Engines, Jeffers Pro Cars, PMS Excavation, PolyDyn, Penray, Pyle Brothers, RGC Advanced Glass and Santhuff Shocks.