Drag racing can be a game of shuck and jive, or cat and mouse, depending on how you look at it. The bottom line is that one has to find the right balance of out thinking their opponent and not over analyzing the situation.

Just ask Pro Extreme racer Frankie Taylor.

Taylor had clearly outperformed eventual winner Mike Janis throughout eliminations at the ADRL Gateway Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., but when the opportunity presented itself to the two to meet head to head, Taylor clearly threw too much into the clutch can.

Drag racing can be a game of shuck and jive, or cat and mouse, depending on how you look at it. The bottom line is that one has to find the right balance of out thinking their opponent and not over analyzing the situation.

Just ask Pro Extreme racer Frankie Taylor.

Taylor had clearly outperformed eventual winner Mike Janis throughout eliminations at the ADRL Gateway Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., but when the opportunity presented itself to the two to meet head to head, Taylor clearly threw too much into the clutch can.

“I feel like we let one get away,” said the likable Taylor in a post-event interview. “We figured he was going to step up for the finals and I should have stuck with the game plan.”

Taylor over analyzed the situation and it bit him in the end.

“I really thought he was going to try and run in the 3.70s,” Taylor, who third qualifying position was stronger than Janis’ No. 10. “We threw a little more at ours and it really wasn’t much more than the 3.82 pass we had. There was just two grams into the clutch and it rolled the tire off.”

Taylor paused, kicked his foot, and lamented over “the one that got away”.

“It was a good race and the first time in a while we’ve made it past the first round,” Taylor added. “All four corners are still on the car. We’ll be back in Columbus.”

 

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