No Prep Elite: Highlights from Rockingham Dragway

After seven seasons, Scott Taylor was able to achieve his first victory at the No Prep Kings Invitational this year. Surprisingly, he was able to secure his second win in just two weeks by defeating Clay Cole in the final round of the No Prep Elite event at Rockingham Dragway, which was the second out of four playoff races.

During my days of competing in bracket racing, I often found myself in the second place position,” Taylor shared. “However, after achieving my first victory, I started experiencing more frequent wins. I never could have imagined that this trend would continue at this high level, but I always had a glimmer of hope that if I could just secure that initial win, more would follow. And indeed, it did.

The No Prep Elite bracket’s arrangement resulted in Taylor facing his close acquaintance Kye Kelley in the initial round. He was able to overcome Jim Howe in the quarterfinals, leading to a repeat of his previous NPK victory against Robin Roberts in Martin, Michigan. In the final round, Taylor competed against Cole, who was aiming for consecutive wins after triumphing in Tulsa the week before. While one might think the initial victory would hold more significance, Taylor confessed that the second one was even more satisfying.

According to Taylor, this victory holds greater significance for him compared to his first win. During the week of their first win, they faced significant challenges and the car was not performing up to his standards. Despite their best efforts, the car was not at its best. However, in this win, they competed against strong opponents and the car performed exceptionally well. Taylor believed that they had a winning car and that holds a lot of value for him.

The Rockingham event, which counts for one and a half points, not only resulted in a win for Taylor but also propelled him from eighth place to a tie for third place with Roberts in the standings. Despite a defeat in the first round in Tulsa the previous week, he is now firmly in the race for the championship, only one round behind the leader with two races remaining.

During the Tulsa event, Taylor expressed doubt about their chances of winning the championship after losing in the first round. However, when Murder Nova was also eliminated in the first round during the Rockingham event, it gave other racers the opportunity to catch up in points. In the finals driver’s meeting, Taylor was informed that if they won, they would secure the third spot in the overall standings. This was a possibility that Taylor had never even considered.

Taylor expressed gratitude to his team, relatives, and supporters for enabling him to achieve this feat. He also acknowledged the competitive nature of the race and emphasized the importance of maintaining the car’s condition throughout. Taylor’s team is striving to prepare for battle, as they believe that proper preparation is crucial for winning the championship.

Clay Cole Becomes New Points Leader: Following his victory at the previous No Prep Elite competition in Tulsa, Clay Cole came close to securing another win at Rockingham, but ultimately lost in the final round to Scott Taylor. Despite not taking the top spot, Cole’s consistent performance allowed him to overtake the points lead with only two races left in the season. With a total of 110 points, Cole currently holds a five-point advantage over Murder Nova. Tied for third place with 95 points each are Scott Taylor and Robin Roberts, while Ryan Martin rounds out the top five with 80 points.

Cole expressed his immense pride in his team, who have meticulously prepared the car for each round and thoroughly checked every aspect to ensure flawless performances. With the added expertise of Brandon Stroud as the tuner, success in the rounds is almost assured. While it is a humbling experience to now hold the top position in points, it also means the team must continue to elevate their game to maintain their rank. However, Cole remains confident in his team, tuner, and car, trusting that their efforts will result in a successful execution of their plan.

According to “Stat Guy” Chris LeCloux, Ryan Martin became the first driver to reach the 300th round of competition in No Prep Kings when he defeated Bobby Ducote in the first round at Rockingham. This achievement was highlighted as the Stat of the Day by LeCloux.

Coming Up Next: The No Prep Elite will be making their way to Alabama International Dragway in Steele, Alabama on October 18-19 for the third out of four playoff races.