KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — His latest racing vacation to Iowa started with the Salute to Veterans.
Griffin Taylor’s next visit to the Hawkeye State will bring him back to Boone Speedway and the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
The event will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT.tv affilate IMCA.tv.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified rookie, a senior to be at A.L. Brown High School in his hometown of Kannapolis, N.C., got his on-track introduction to the class and the competition during the early-season Clash on the Coast Series in Florida.
Taylor then ventured to early April Frostbusters at Stuart, Marshalltown and Boone, returning for four more Iowa outings last month.
“Tracks back home are more of a sandy red clay. They’re a black dirt or brown clay here,” said Taylor, who wheels a 2019 Harris Chassis. “The biggest thing I’ve learned so far is you don’t get to get away with mistakes racing with the best. The competition is tough. I’m trying to learn the tracks and get better as a driver.”
He’s a third generation driver, following grandfather Thomas and father/crew chief/travel partner Christopher onto the track.
Christopher collected five wins during his own IMCA Modified career in his native New York before a job change took the family south 11 years ago.
“When I was 12, my dad bought a Modified chassis that sat in our shop. We decided to put it together and I ran it for a year (in a local Mideast Modified) class and I just fell in love with the Modifieds,” said Taylor, who moved to the class after Bandolero and quarter midget stints.
“We’ve watched Super Nationals before on IMCA.TV and two years ago dad and I made the trip to Boone. We got to hang out with Cody Thompson and help crew a little the year he won the All-Star Invitational,” he continued. “We came out here, saw how big of an event it is, how cool it is, and I want of be part of it.”
“My ultimate goal for Super Nationals is to just be able to race on Saturday.”
He’s hoping to race in Iowa again next summer after getting his high school diploma.