Taylor leads Canadian Daytona charge

By John Hopkins
With files from Frank Wood & Daytona International Speedway

Donald Taylor will represent Canada in the opening two rounds of the AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track Series next Wednesday and Thursday (March 3-4). The events will be the first to be held on Daytona International Speedway's new quarter-mile flat track facility.

The Welland, ON ace will compete on board the JPR Suzuki sponsored by Clare's Cycle, Nexo Sport and Scorpion Helmet.

The multi-time CMA national champion finished ninth and 10th in last year's pair of Daytona short track events.

Missing from the GNC entry list is Doug Lawrence. The 'Mississauga Missile' will sit out this year’s Florida offerings, citing budget restraints and a concentration on the CMA series for 2010.

In the Pro Sport division Canada has larger representation with Petrolia, ON's Harley Dunn on the Kel-Gor/Rocky’s H-D/Wrex Gear Honda, Mike Labelle of Welland, ON on the Weirbach Racing/General Engineering/Barnett Clutch-sponsored Honda and Leamington, ON fast-boy Jesse Phibbs riding a Honda for M Pearce Trucking, Clarke Group and Chapman Signs.

The Flat Track events have been staged in Daytona Beach for more than 30 years. They were first held at Memorial Stadium, which was located near Daytona State College. In the late 1980s, the event moved to the newly constructed Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium.

Last fall, field turf was installed at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium and Daytona International Speedway constructed a new quarter-mile dirt track that is located just outside turns 1 and 2 that now serves as the new home to the Flat Track events.

The quarter-mile track, which saw its first action in late December with karts from the World Karting Association, is layered with the same lime rock that was utilized at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium and lighting will be provided by Musco Lighting.