Jordan Taylor returns to NASCAR – with ‘Rodney Sandstorm’

If you’re lucky enough to call Jordan Taylor a friend, there’s a chance you’ve worn one of his Rolexes, hard-won from three trips to the podium at the 24 Hours of Daytona. “My buddy Mark has probably worn one of my Rolexes more than I have,” he laughed. “I’ll bring one out if we’re on vacation or maybe on a date night, but for the most part, they just sit in my closet.”

It’s a fitting glimpse into Taylor’s character: generous, a little understated, and perfectly fine letting someone else bask in the spotlight. That is, unless he’s dressed as Rodney Sandstorm.

This weekend, as the four-time IMSA champion returns to NASCAR with Spire Motorsports in the Truck Series race at Lime Rock Park, so does his infamous alter-ego. The jorts-wearing, mullet-sporting, colorful-jacketed caricature of a Jeff Gordon superfan is back — and even has his name emblazoned on the side of the No. 7 truck. “People ask about Rodney all the time,” Taylor told me back in the spring. “It’s been quiet the last couple of years, but maybe this year he’ll make a comeback.” 

Rodney Sandstorm is an outlandish character: loud, quirky, and the center of attention. So it’s no surprise that people are often thrown off by the contrast with Taylor’s quiet confidence. “People meet me at the track and are surprised — I’m actually pretty introverted,” he said. “They expect this loud guy from social media, and that’s just not me.”

The early years

At 34, very few experiences in the racing world are new to Taylor (though this weekend marks his first Truck Series start). He first raced the Rolex 24 — a gruelling 24 hour challenge at the Daytona International Speedway — when he was just 16 years old. His first outing was under the gaze of a familiar, and somewhat skeptical, figure: his dad, Wayne Taylor. “I remember him leaning into the car before first practice and telling me I wasn’t ready,” Jordan recalled. “He was probably right.” Still, being thrown into the deep end, as he puts it, forced him to sink or swim, and ultimately accelerated his development.

But when it came time to build a professional career, he and his older brother Ricky Taylor were adamant that they didn’t want to be seen as kids coasting by on their dad’s name.

#10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP Chevrolet: Max Angelelli, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

“You see father-son teams, and people assume the son is only there because of his dad,” Jordan said. “So we wanted to prove ourselves first.” The Florida native drove for Corvette, while Ricky raced with Penske, and only after finding success on their own terms did they return to the family-run Wayne Taylor Racing.

Now, they’re back under the same umbrella, and they’re stronger for it. “We’ve both had success in other places, so it feels like we’ve earned it. We’re not just hired for our last name,” Jordan said. “And honestly, it’s more special to win as a family.”

The birth of Rodney Sandstorm

#10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi: Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Max Angelelli, Jeff Gordon

Photo by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images

As his confidence grew behind the wheel, it paved the way for the unexpected birth of Rodney Sandstorm in 2017. “We were at dinner with Jeff Gordon, and he was constantly being approached by fans — it caught me off guard just how famous he was. So I had the idea to create a fake Jeff Gordon superfan and surprise him at Daytona,” Jordan recalled. 

Ricky Taylor, Jeff Gordon, Wayne Taylor Racing

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

The prank flopped — Gordon recognized him immediately — but the character resonated with fans.

“Rodney took on a life of his own,” he said. The costume was cobbled together from Walmart and eBay: homemade jorts, velcro Dr. Scholl’s sneakers, and a vintage jacket that “smelled heavily of cigarettes.” But behind the absurdity was something real. “The character and the mullet actually probably did help me come out of my shell,” Jordan said. “It made me more comfortable being myself.”

Brotherly bond

#101 Cadillac WTR Cadillac V-SeriesR: Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Jordan and Ricky are less than two years apart, and they’ve been best friends since childhood. “When I was younger I was extremely shy, and he was also quite shy,” Jordan recalled. “I didn’t start showing more personality — at least publicly — until around 2013, but I’m still quite introverted in-person.” 

While Jordan has his Rodney Sandstorm persona, the elder Taylor brother keeps things a little more low-key. “Ricky has both sides too. He just doesn’t show that side on social media at all,” Jordan explained.

“He’s super funny at home, and has all these funny things he’s got going on, but most of the world doesn’t see it. He just likes to keep things a little bit more private.” 

On-track, the pair are “still super close.” Jordan added, “We were teammates for a few years, which was great, and now that we’re in different cars, we still support each other and help each other when we can.”