From Ferns Racing PR
Shelby Township, MI — January 24, 2012 —Taylor Ferns, the reigning USAC D1 Midget Series champion, will compete in all four of the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series races on pavement in 2012 for Team 6R in a Toyota-powered Beast.
“I’m really excited to join Team 6R,” said Ferns. “It’s a great accomplishment for me to be able to drive for a team like that. I look up to Kody (Swanson) and all of the drivers on the team and look forward to working with them and learning from them.”
Team 6R, owned by Darryl Guiducci, is the winningest team in USAC Silver Crown Series history. Jack Hewitt, Jim Keeker, Dave Steele, Kody Swanson and Brian Tyler have all recorded wins over the last 20-plus years for Team 6R. The team was created in 1988, and has over 50 total wins in USAC Silver Crown, Midget and Sprint Car competition.
“We’re really excited to have Taylor with us,” said Guiducci. “We were fortunate enough to do a test with her last year at Indianapolis Raceway Park. She handled herself very professionally and did everything she was asked to, and turned some pretty good times as well. We’re looking to help the Silver Crown Series grow and she’s a perfect asset to it.”
Ferns, the winningest female in USAC history, was victorious last season at the Indianapolis Speedrome en route to claiming the USAC D1 Midget Series title. In 16 main events with the series, the native of Shelby Township, Mich. finished in the Top-10 in each and every start.
On the pavement in 2011, the high school sophomore made 12 starts with the series, recording an average finish of 6.2. Ferns also made five starts in a sprint car on pavement last year at Spartan Speedway in her home state of Michigan, picking up five Top-Five finishes.
“When I started racing, it was on the pavement, so I have a lot of laps on it,” said Ferns. “I enjoy racing on both pavement and the dirt. I guess I am more used to pavement, and a lot of what I have learned racing on pavement has helped me on dirt as well.”
The 2012 Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series opens on May 19 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Ind. with the inaugural “Hall of Fame Classic.” Ferns will compete in that event, along with the June 22 race at Iowa Speedway, the June 29 contest at Toledo Speedway in Ohio and the July 27 event at Lucas Oil Raceway.
“I had a great time testing the Silver Crown car last year,” shared Ferns. “I really like those cars. They are a lot bigger than a midget and when you are driving them, things happen a lot slower, but you are going so fast in them. I adjusted to the car pretty well testing and I can’t wait to race one.”
Last season Team 6R racked up a combined 14 Top-10 finishes with the Kody Swanson, Tanner Swanson and Brian Tyler behind the wheel. Kody Swanson was victorious twice on the pavement at Lucas Oil Raceway, as well as Toledo Speedway, while Tyler won the dirt at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill.