Racers finish season, look to grow in spring
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MISSION VALLEY – James Bays of Polson spent many weekends of his childhood at racetracks in Kalispell and Mission Valley. He cheered on his father, Ralph Bays, for more than a dozen years before Ralph died after a battle with cancer last year.
“I promised him I would get out there and race one day,” Bays said. This year, with some help from his uncle Albert Bays and other racers, Bays was able to get a car up and running for competition with Northwest Pro 4 Modifieds, a Mission Valley-based racing class that competes in Kalispell.
Modified cars aren’t stock cars, but instead are frames of tubing with metal crafted and welded to the outside.
The modified car Bays used for the needed a lot of work, but it ran well enough that the 22-year-old could get the feel for racing.
“I didn’t have mirrors so (other racers) would be behind me and then just out of nowhere be in front of me,” Bays said. Bays learned racing is much more difficult than driving on the highway, even if the modified cars don’t go much faster than 60 miles per hour.
“You have to learn how to go around corners,” Bays said. “Cars are just inches away from you, not like on the highway where they are feet away.”
Corey White, Jr., who has raced with Northwest Pro Modifieds for a several years, says there is a misconception about the skill required to race.
“People think it’s just turning?” White, Jr. said. “There is a lot more to it than that. You are sitting three inches off the ground, trying to maneuver around other cars. It’s a lot more than just turning.”
For White, there’s an added reason to perform well. He races against his father, Corey White, Sr.
“You always want to beat your old man,” White, Jr. said.
The heart-pounding adrenaline rush that comes when racing is only part of the fun.
“We spend a lot of time in the garage in the winter, working on these cars,” racer Jimmy Jaxx said. “I like that part almost as much as racing.”
Bays agreed.
“We’ll be in the garage until three or four in the morning,” Bays said.
He hopes to work through the winter to get his car in shape to race again in the spring. After finishing in the bottom in all of his races during the season, Bays managed to place fourth in his final race. He wants to do better next year.
Northwest Pro Modifieds, which raced at the Mission Valley Speedway for several years before moving to Kalispell, is looking for more drivers next season.
“I’d love to have all types of people join,” Bays said of the class that consists mostly of older men. Members of the class are extraordinarily helpful, Bays said.
“A lot of them gave me parts to help get my car running,” Bays said.
For more information about participating, call series director Matt Gollehon at (406) 261-2346.
The class standings for the end of the season:
1. #57 Corey White Sr, 173 points
2. #8 Lefty Hendrickx, 137 points
3. #5 Jimmy Jaxx, 122 points
4. #75 Corey White, Jr., 108 points
5. #6 James Bays, 99 points
6. #82 Dan Bedwell, 76 points
7. #00 Casey Brandt, 61 points
8. #11 Damon Whealon, 45 points
