Belvidere, IL (August 14, 2012) – After landing on the podium at Crandon and Chicagoland, the multi-time champion racer continued his string of podium finishes with a third place finish in Round 10 at the UP Off-Road 100 in Bark River, Michigan. The thirty-nine year short-course veteran racer continues to thrill capacity crowds week in and week out with his never say quit attitude on and off the track.
The 1.3 mile long all-natural terrain track is quite familiar to Scott Taylor and his #8 Miller Welders/AMSOIL/Roush Yates Engines/BFGoodrich Tires Ford F-150 and over the years it hasn’t always been kind to the champion driver. Just last year, during qualifying, Taylor took a hard end over end crash that had his crew working a twelve hour shift to get the truck ready for last year’s event. After witnessing Scott Taylor’s racing this past weekend, last year’s incident definitely didn’t affect his performance.
Round 9
After a slight steering issue in qualifying, the Miller Welders /AMSOIL/ Roush Yates Engines/BFGoodrich Tires qualified in row four. The start of the eleven lap event saw Taylor quickly move in the fifth position. The Roush Yates powerplant, King Shocks, BFGoodrich Tires were spot on as the seven-time PRO champion began pressing for a spot on the podium. The top three trucks were setting blistering pace after the mandatory caution. After gaining a spot when racing resumed, the final two laps had Taylor hold his position and take the checkered flag in fourth place.
“We had a great piece today,” commented Scott Taylor. “The competition is really strong and I have a few changes that will step up our program for tomorrow.”
Round 10
The starting grid had Scott Taylor starting in the second row. When the PRO-2WD field took the green flag, the Miller Welders Ford came out of the first turn in third place. By the third lap, Taylor cleared Steve Barlow to assume the second position. The second spot on the podium looked like it would be Taylor’s, but with three laps to go a side by side battle broke out between Rob MacCachern and Scott Taylor. The two icons of the sport swapped positions multiple times before MacCachern made the pass stick, moving Taylor into third place. After eleven laps, CJ Greaves took the win as Rob MacCachern finished second, and Scott Taylor took the checkered flag in third place.
“Rob and I really had a great battle out on the track,” remarked Scott Taylor. “I have to thank my crew for all the great work this weekend and of course our great sponsors, Miller Electric Welders, AMSOIL, Roush Yates Engines, and BFGoodrich Tires. We tried a new tire today and it really worked great. Thanks again to the Bark River Lions Club for putting on a great race. They have been at it thirty-seven years and I have been to almost all of them. Finally thanks to all the great fans here at Bark River, the turnout here is just incredible.”
Next Race – September 1-2, 2012 – Crandon, Wisconsin.
Mike Reusche – race report
Scott Behnke – photos