Bill Taylor’s Ready To Shift Gears After Back Injury
Story By: JEREMY PERRY / THE DIRT TRACK AT GENESEE – ARCADE, NY – After a grueling recovery process, Arcade, NY’s Bill Taylor is eager to get back behind the wheel and resume his racing career. Taylor, a seasoned driver with multiple championships under his belt, suffered a debilitating back injury last year that forced him to step away from the sport.
The injury, a herniated/bulging disc at L5 S1, was a culmination of years of wear and tear on Taylor’s lower back. Despite trying non-surgical treatments, Taylor ultimately underwent a Lower Lumbar Discectomy Surgery to alleviate the pressure on his sciatic nerve.
The road to recovery was long and arduous, with Taylor facing six weeks of restricted activity. However, he remained determined to return to racing, and his doctor’s clearance was a welcome relief.
Taylor’s motivation for returning to racing is twofold. Not only does he crave the competition, but he’s also driven by a desire to honor his late mother, who passed away last year. Taylor had always cherished the memory of winning a race in front of his mother, and now he feels compelled to win again in her memory.
“I told my doctor, ‘Returning to racing is goal number one, being pain-free is goal number two,'” Taylor said. “If treatment was going to make it so I couldn’t race, it would have been very difficult for me to go for it. I would have kept exploring other options.”
To accommodate his back injury, Taylor plans to make some adjustments to his car, including installing a molded seat for added support. He’s also become more mindful of his lifting and moving techniques to avoid exacerbating the injury.
Taylor’s goals for the upcoming season are ambitious, with a focus on winning and consistently finishing strong. He’s particularly eager to compete in Rush Crate Late Model events and take on the challenge of racing at tracks beyond his home circuit.
“I’m pretty fired up for racing in general,” Taylor said. “I’m going to be hunting that first win, and I’m also excited for some Rush races. I want to get some good finishes at tracks beyond my home track.”
Taylor’s experience has also given him a newfound appreciation for the sport and the community that surrounds it. He’s come to realize that racing is not just a passion but a way of life – one that requires dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks.
“It can all be taken away tomorrow, so make the most out of it today,” Taylor said. “A bad night at the track is still a night doing what I am most passionate about, the thing I dreamed of doing for 20-plus years.”
As Taylor prepares to shift gears and return to the track, he’s filled with a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and gratitude. He knows that the road ahead won’t be easy, but he’s ready to put the pedal to the metal and see where the season takes him.
Taylor’s journey is a testament to the power of determination and the importance of never giving up on one’s passions. As he gears up for his return to racing, fans and fellow drivers alike will be cheering him on every step of the way.
