INNISFIL, Ontario – Brett Taylor will compete full time on the NASCAR Pinty’s Series this season with Ed Hakonson Racing, beginning Aug. 15 at Sunset Speedway.
Taylor scored the victory in the 2019 Pinty’s Series season finale and would like to hold onto the moniker of “most recent series race winner.”
“We’re pretty comfortable with that reference and the whole No. 33 TCB Trailer Chevrolet team and everyone at the EHR (Ed Hakonson Racing) group has been using this extra time we’ve had to be ready when we got the green flag to go racing,” said Taylor.
The Pinty’s Series season was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Taylor’s team used the time available to prepare their race cars.
As restrictions loosened Taylor and the No. 33 TCB Trailer Chevrolet team were able to conduct test sessions at all three tracks the Pinty’s Series will race at this year.
“I can’t say enough about how well this partnership with EHR has worked,” said Taylor. “The car felt great when we unloaded at each track. Sunset Speedway is a fun track, Flamboro is very tight third-mile oval. And of course, Jukasa Speedway where we won last year is a special place. I’m really excited to get going.”
EHR team principal Ed Hakonson is equally pleased to see how the group has come together.
“We’re so happy to have Brett with us full time,” said Hakonson. “He fits with our group so well and throughout the off season we were busy getting our cars ready and testing and now we’re so anxious to finally get going.
“I can’t say enough about how much enthusiasm Brett brings to our team. His dedication traveling from Western Canada so frequently to work with us as an eastern based team makes us better.”
With his rookie of the year campaign in 2018 and becoming the first western Canadian driver to win in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Taylor has had a quick rise and garnered plenty of attention.
It’s also why he’s attracted a new primary sponsor this season, with Calgary-based TCB Trailers adorning his No. 33 Chevrolet.
TCB Trailers owner Martin Janzen has watched Taylor’s career for some time.
“We sponsored Brett previously at Wetaskiwin,” said Janzen. “Watching his performance improve last year and then seeing him win at Jukasa Speedway gets your attention. Our business has customers that are from Ontario and so we thought this partnership fit very well with everyone’s needs.”
The 2020 NASCAR Pinty’s schedule consists of three race weekends, with twin 125-lap races at each venue: Sunset Speedway, Flamboro Speedway and Jukasa Speedway.
Due to social gathering restrictions, fans will not be permitted to attend the races.
“The only downside is we won’t have fans in the seats,” said Taylor. “They bring such an energy to our events and we’re going to miss them. But we’re also going to do our best to put on a great show they’ll be able to watch on TV.”