CALGARY, Ab — Cameron Hayley will return to his home track in the upcoming Montana 200 on July 21. Last year the Late Model Rookie sensation overcame significant setbacks during the race and managed a top five finish in the prestigious Event.
"It would be pretty cool to bring home the win on my birthday but the first order of business is making the show."— Cameron Hayley
The Montana 200 is a big show that draws cars from Alberta, BC, Montana, Idaho and Washington States and showcases the Northwest’s best talent, young and old. 2011 brought close to 50 cars to Montana to compete for a shot at the title and this year the promoters are looking to eclipse that number.
The Cabinets by Hayley #24 Super Late Model Racing Team has been racing down south in 2012 under the tutelage of long time racing great, Bill McNally. McNally’s Racing Team spotted the young Canadian talent early in 2011 and wasted no time in offering him a full time ride for 2012 in the NASCAR K&N Pro West Division.
Halfway through the season, Cameron is holding a tight lead in the 2012 rookie of the year standings and is also being touted as one of the “Next Nine” drivers to keep your eye on. The “Next Nine” are NASCARs rising stars and these young drivers are expected to compete for jobs in NASCARs premier Sprint Cup Division in only a few short years.
The Cabinets by Hayley team will be returning to its roots for the Montana show and the team is eager to be back to familiar territory. “Cameron has been learning new tracks, racing new drivers, and learning the business of NASCAR and motor racing so far this year” a team spokesman says. “He’s been exposed to press conferences, grand openings in addition he was invited to a reception at the Toyota Racing Development shop in California where he was introduced to the very best drivers in NASCAR.
When asked why Cameron likes Montana Raceway Park so much, Cameron pauses to reflect before answering. “Even though it’s five hours away from my home, I consider it my home track. The fans there have always been extremely warm and supportive going back to my days in the Baby Grand; referring to the many wins that he experienced when driving the Scaled Late Model cars. They know I’m a good driver and they have always supported me” Hayley adds. Cameron likes the track too. “It’s very technical and we’ve always been able to work the top groove. My experience in the K&N Series has taught me even more about racing the top groove and I’m hopeful that we can make the car stick and race our way into the show. Plus, I love way the way the car drops into the corners and take a set, it’s just the coolest feeling!”
Cameron, still 2 weeks away from his 16th birthday, and his driver’s license, will turn 16 on the 21st. “It would be pretty cool to bring home the win on my birthday but the first order of business is making the show.” Cameron, while fast in 2011, barely made the show after several mechanical problems during qualifying and the heat races but returns with a lot more racing under his belt in the big heavy Super Late models.
