Taws Leads Twenty-Seven Laps Amid Bumps And Bangs

August 28 2007 - The "Barbie at Wal*Mart" stock car driven by Ashley Taws led 27 of 50 laps in the Ontario Sportsman Series feature race at Sunset Speedway near Barrie on Saturday night. Despite her speed, the 23-year-old rookie from Newmarket didn't get the results she wanted as her car was hit repeatedly throughout a pair of races.

Taws qualified sixth and started the first of two 50-lap runs second as the top seven qualifiers were inverted. Almost immediately she was pushed to the outside and fell down the order as the field ran nose-to-tail, leaving no space for her to slot in to the queue. Settling in well down the field, she began working her way forward while surviving several roughhousing incidents. The race included many caution laps and left plenty of cars in need of body work. Even Taws, who did her best to avoid contact, found herself spinning late in the race as, her car was pitched sideways on the straight. She wound up ninth, the last car on the lead lap.

"I don't know what was going on out there," said Taws, "I was trying to make passes and avoid contact - even if I was in the right - but then I'd pass someone and get drilled. My car is a mess."

With lots of muscle, rivets and tape, the DJK Racing crew had the Barbie car ready for race two. Inversion of the unlapped cars saw Taws start from pole position and she took full advantage. Taking the lead, she soon found herself holding a small advantage over Brad Graham (a NASCAR Canada regular making a guest appearance) and veteran Steve Robblee.

After 27 laps at the front, Taws caught backmarkers, but the rookie did not know the fast way around and got trapped by Graham and Robblee as they drove past. Having lost two spots and nearly a full straightaway, the Barbie driver began making up the gap. Helped by Graham and Robblee losing time as they nosed each other on the straight, Taws was soon within a second, then continued to gain with fast laps that put her on Robblee's tail before an incident behind them brought out the yellow.

The cars lined up for the restart: Graham, Steve Robblee, Taws and Matt Robblee (Steve's son) in fourth. After the racing resumed, the lead four held their places while battling for position. Leaving the door open at turn one, Taws allowed Matt Robblee alongside and the pair touched. Taws spun and fell to the back as the yellow flags came out and pack went by. Rejoining just as the leaders were approaching, Taws stayed on the lead lap, but out of contention for the lead.

Still fighting when the race restarted, she took back every place she could as the laps wound down, and made her final pass at the finish line to take seventh.

"I didn't finish where I wanted to," said Taws, "But I've shown that the Barbie car is fast and I can drive it fast. I've still got lots to learn about oval racing, especially strategy, but I'm really happy with my progress.

"Thanks so much to the team for all their work setting up and fixing the car. And thanks to all my supporters for coming to see me at race tracks and Wal*Mart displays."

Taws's next race is at Cayuga Speedway this Saturday (September 1).