Spire Tabs Jordan Taylor For Truck Debut At Lime Rock

Jordan Taylor will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Lime Rock Park. (Michael Levitt/LAT for IMSA photo)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Rodney Sandstorm is coming back to NASCAR.

Officially revealed Monday night after first being reported earlier in the day by Motorsports Hotspot, four-time IMSA sports car champion Jordan Taylor – whose alter-ego is the Sandstorm persona – will drive the No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series stop at Lime Rock Park.

The 34-year-old Taylor, also a past 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner, is one of General Motors’ top international road racing drivers. His factory association with the brand goes back as far as 2012, when he drove for Corvette Racing in the GT category of the American Le Mans Series.

Now, the Orlando, Fla., native will strap into a NASCAR truck for the first time – with Gainbridge onboard as his primary sponsor – in hopes of making waves in his return to professional stock car racing.

“I’m eager to join Spire Motorsports for the LiUNA 150,” said Taylor, who has made selected starts in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series in the past. “I have spoken with a few members of the team for a few years now, so it’s great things have finally come together.

“I know it’s going to be tough jumping into the series mid-season, but I know I am joining one of the top teams in the Craftsman Truck Series.”

A benefit for Taylor will be his extensive experience at Lime Rock. He has six prior IMSA appearances at the 1.53-mile, seven-turn venue dating back to 2010, with two class pole positions and two class victories – including an overall win in the Daytona Prototype category in 2013.

That’s a positive when considering the Truck Series will only have one 50-minute practice on Friday prior to qualifying and the 100-lap race Saturday afternoon.

“Our Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado will for sure be competitive; I just hope I can adapt to the truck quickly on the short weekend,” Taylor added. “Lime Rock Park is a track I know really well, but obviously all my experience around there is in much different types of cars, so I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”

Taylor’s full-time gig in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – driving the No. 40 Cadillac V-Series.R GTP entry for his father’s Wayne Taylor Racing team – has produced highlights in recent years, including a podium in the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona and overall win at the 12 Hours of Sebring that year.

Altogether, the younger Taylor brother is a two-time overall winner of the Daytona endurance classic, twice an overall winner at Sebring, and a two-time Petit Le Mans victor. He also boasts a class win from the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours in the GTE Pro category.

Jordan Taylor in action at Circuit of the Americas in 2023. (Nigel Kinrade/NKP photo)

His initiation into NASCAR came two years ago, when he was tabbed by Hendrick Motorsports as the fill-in for an injured Chase Elliott at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and qualified an impressive fourth before a chaotic race left him 24th in his lone Cup Series start to date.

Taylor went on to add two Xfinity Series starts later that year with Chevrolet-affiliated Kaulig Racing, on the road course at Portland (Ore.) Int’l Raceway and the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL, finishing on the lead lap both times and showcasing competitive, top-10 pace.

It’s that kind of acumen and adaptability that has Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson believing in the spark that Taylor can provide his Truck Series team on a new road course for the entire series.

“Jordan Taylor’s body of work speaks for itself,” said Dickerson. “His accomplishments at the global level are more than impressive so we’re obviously thrilled to have Jordan drive our No. 7 Gainbridge Chevy Silverado this weekend at Lime Rock Park. This is also a great opportunity to connect with our friends at Wayne Taylor Racing and shine a bit of a spotlight on the TWG Motorsports family.

“There is no doubt Wayne and Jordan set a very high standard when it comes to road racing and can only help us be better. Expectations are high and, collectively, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Broadcast coverage of Taylor’s Truck Series debut in the LiUNA 150 is slated for Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m. ET, live on FOX, the NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.