{"id":1555246,"date":"2023-03-26T21:19:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T01:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1555246"},"modified":"2023-03-26T21:19:47","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T01:19:47","slug":"jordan-taylor-scared-darrell-waltrip-crashing-live-fox-sports-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/jordan-taylor-scared-darrell-waltrip-crashing-live-fox-sports-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Jordan Taylor Scared Darrell Waltrip by Crashing a Live Fox Sports Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can we get a GoFundMe going to buy Jordan Taylor<\/a> a seat in the remaining Cup Series races? Making his debut in Chase Elliott\u2019s<\/a> place at Circuit of the Americas, the sports car star acquitted himself well after getting shoved from fourth place to 13th<\/sup> on the opening turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forget Taylor\u2019s driving, though. NASCAR<\/a> needs the man\u2019s personality, although Darrell Waltrip might have disagreed for a brief moment five years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordan Taylor finished a deceptive 24th<\/sup> in Chase Elliott\u2019s No. 9 Chevy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Driver
Driver Jordan Taylor, dressed in costume as alter-ego racer Rodney Sandstorm, waves a racing flag as racing fans arrive at the Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum on Feb. 6, 2022. | Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Former Formula 1 stars Kimi Raikkonen<\/a> and Jenson Button have the higher profiles among casual racing fans, but they weren\u2019t the guest drivers with the greatest potential upside in Sunday\u2019s Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas. That honor belonged to Jordan Taylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taylor, an accomplished driver in the sports car ranks, was driving the No. 9 Chevy in place of Josh Berry, himself a substitute for Chase Elliott while the 2020 series champion recovers from a broken leg. It was his first NASCAR start, so he had every right to fail despite high hopes by people familiar with his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taylor qualified fourth on Saturday but gave up nine spots almost immediately after getting roughed up in Turn 1 of Sunday\u2019s opening lap on the demanding road course. He came back to run as high as eighth in Stage 1 and fell back into the low 20s at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was 11th<\/sup> to start the third overtime in a race that didn\u2019t want to end. Unfortunately, Taylor got collected in the final multi-car scrum and finished 24th<\/sup> in the race won by Tyler Reddick. That didn\u2019t come close to reflecting how well Taylor handled himself in his first NASCAR race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordan Taylor did appear at a previous NASCAR race<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Drivers
Drivers Jordan Taylor and Bubba Wallace share a laugh during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 25, 2023. | Chris Graythen\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He may not have been driving, but Jordan Taylor showed up on a Cup Series starting grid back in 2018. Consistent with Taylor\u2019s demeanor and personality, it was hilarious to everyone except Darrell Waltrip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides being a talented driver, the multi-time WeatherTech SportsCar Series champion is a pop-culture star. His presence on social media, particularly as alter-ego Rodney Sandstorm, has won him a legion of fans who don\u2019t even follow motorsports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five years ago, he took that persona to Talladega, where friend Jeff Gordon (they were part of a winning 24 Hours of Daytona team the previous year) and Darrell Waltrip were interviewing Brad Keselowski on Fox before the Cup Series race. Decked out in a gaudy Dupont racing jacket, \u201cSandstorm\u201d crashed the interview<\/a> and handed Gordon a sneaker to be autographed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gordon played along, but Waltrip was shocked by the party crasher and implored someone to call security. Keselowski, who was holding his daughter during the interview, also seemed surprised at first. However, he cracked a smile while telling Taylor, \u201cI think you should stay away from my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darrell Waltrip admits he got fooled<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

I was totally surprised, I had never meet @jordan10taylor<\/a> so I thought he was some race fan trying to get on TV, I soon realized it was set up by my partner, @JeffGordonWeb<\/a>, hilarious!! https:\/\/t.co\/ytTP14xJ00<\/a><\/p>— Darrell Waltrip (@AllWaltrip) April 30, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>