Taylor admitted after Wednesday’s announcement that the only thing that could have taken him away from his family team was an opportunity the caliber of the one that Team Penske and Acura provided him with.
“I can’t lie. Nothing could have taken me away from driving with my brother and everything that my dad had built there besides an opportunity like this … with Team Penske coming back to sports car racing, and Acura after their great season in GT this year with the NSX,” explained Taylor. “There’s so many big factors that it doesn’t look like it’s just a flash in the pan sort of deal. It seems like it’s something that is really exciting. The series (as a whole) is growing.”
“It was a hard decision after such a good year and so much momentum was built over there. But I think this is a new challenge and an amazing opportunity. I’m excited to take it. I think Jordan and my dad would have said I was stupid not to. Coming over here is a decision I’m really excited about.”
With the dynamic of Ricky’s father Wayne also being his team owner, Penske president Tim Cindric said that hiring Ricky was something that everyone at Penske wanted to do out in the open, so there were no secrets or hard feelings from either side.
“I’ve known Wayne (Taylor) for quite a while. … We’ve had a working association,” said Cindric, who worked with WTR to field a sister car with driver Kurt Busch at the Rolex 24 in 2008. “We said to Wayne, ‘Look, we wouldn’t do this behind your back, but I know how it is as a father and you want your kids to continue to grow. Is this an opportunity you think he (Ricky) would consider?'”
“It was very difficult for Wayne, probably more so even than for Ricky, where he had to wear two hats: one as a businessman, one as a father … and maybe even (a third) as a car owner. There were a lot of different dynamics that have gone into how we ended up here today, but we’re pleased with our lineup and excited about the upcoming season.”
But even amid preparations for the coming year, there was still a lot for Ricky Taylor to be proud of this season: namely five wins, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and his first-career IMSA Prototype championship.
“This was a dream season with Wayne Taylor Racing, one that I’ll always look back on and be proud of,” said Taylor.
Even still, a call from Roger Penske is something that no driver would turn a blind eye at. Ricky Taylor was no different.
“To get the call and the offer to come drive for Acura Team Penske … there’s not a bad time to take that call,” he added. “In the position that the WeatherTech Championship is in, it’s continuing to grow. The (competition) level is getting higher and higher every year. To join a team like Acura Team Penske is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. I’m really looking forward to it and I can’t wait to get started.”
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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Don’t think I could desert my family even if our car was junk. Wayne Taylor has worked hard all his life to get to this point and then share it with his kids. Ricky would never have gotten this far without his dad.