Aztec Speedway
Subbing for Clifton, Taylor grabs victory in New Mexico
By Tom Freimann
Western Dirt Racing Association
Arkansas driver Jeff Taylor picked up $2,000. (Rich Mahan - richsrichphotos.com)
AZTEC, N.M. (Sept. 1) — Jeff Taylor's guest appearance in Jim Clifton's No. 1c Late Model proved to be fruitful.
The driver from Cave City, Ark., earned $2,000 for a victory in the Western Dirt Racing Association-sanctioned Snap-On Four Corners Late Model Shootout at Aztec Speedway, the first-ever WDRA visit to New Mexico.
Taylor finished about five lengths ahead of defending series champion Dean Moore of Grand Junction, Colo., while Arizona invader Lonnie Parker Jr. of Phoenix finished third. Jeep Berry of Grand Junction rallied from the rear to finish fourth and Curt Daniels gave Colorado three of the top five finishers.
The feature lineup rolled onto the track about 11 p.m. and rolled to a four-wide salute for the fans at a track not accustomed to Late Model racing.
The start of the main event was marred by several cautions, and Berry sustained a flat tire that forced him to pit for a replacement. Butch Reid was also caught up in a caution that saw his car get towed away.
When the field was finally able to click off some green-flag laps, Taylor built a commanding leader over Moore as Berry fought to work his way back into contention.
More cautions slowed the action on the dry and slick racing surface with the top five holding their spots until Berry broke into that group for a fourth-place finish.
Notebook
Taylor's Jim Clifton-owned car is sponsored by Temco Trailers and AMSOIL. ... Clifton, of Fort Morgan, Colo., is a former Colorado Late Model Association champion and long-time Colorado dirt racer. ……… The track used transponders to score the Late Model division. ... Berry, who won seven of eight 2007 WDRA features entering the race, won the first heat race despite starting eighth in the nine-car field. ... although Berry outran Taylor in the race, Taylor ran a fast lap of 14.83-seconds on the third-mile oval, according to his transponder. ... Taylor bettered Berry in the dash. ... Hometown driver Jeff Davis finished 22nd in the feature. ... WDRA has one more event scheduled on Sept. 28 at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Olathe, Colo.
