G.E.T. Rich 212: Hayley ready to put the hammer down

Cameron Hayley of Calgary, Alberta, will be strapping himself in and getting behind the wheel of a brand new super late model for tonight’s second annual G.E.T. Rich at the Montana Gold 212 auto race at Montana Raceway Park.

“I know how this handles,” he said of his black No. 24 car.

“But with a brand new car, you may have to work out a couple bugs during the race.”

Other than that, and along with staying out of trouble during the course of 212 laps for the main event, he feels this car could help him finish in Victory Lane when all is said and done.

“You always go out to get that win, no matter what,” he said.

The 16-year-old did turn a few laps in this car two weeks ago, the night before this race was originally scheduled for. Rain, however, washed out the next two days of racing, forcing it to be rescheduled for this weekend.

“First on the board,” he said of his those lap times during his test runs.

As a result, Hayley should be one of the favorites tonight, along with defending champion Ryan Wells of Hingham, last year’s runner-up Alex Lessor of Kalispell and third-place finisher Agni Howell, also of Kalispell.

Another young gun — Giles Thornton, 15, of Whitefish — also looks to challenge those front runners in what promises to be talented and veteran field of the 24 top drivers and cars from around the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

Former Montana 200 champion Jeff Jefferson is also entered.

Hayley raced full time at MRP two years ago. In his first season, he was named the rookie of the year for super late models and wound up just two points behind the leader in the final points standings.

He finished fifth in the Montana 200 that year, and last year was headed for a top three finish when, “I crashed out with 80 laps to go,” he said.

He is currently enjoying a banner season with NASCAR’s K & N Pro Series West. After four races, he has finished in the top five each time — first at Daytona, Fla., second at Phoenix, third at Stockton, Calif., and fifth last weekend at Brainerd, Minn.

“Real good season so far,” he said of his second K & N campaign.

“Second in the points, eight points back (of the leader).”

Hayley says he plans to run five times at MRP this year, which is up four races from last year.

“I love this place,” he said.

“I’ve raced really well the last few times I’ve been here.”

Hayley has been racing since the age of 7. His introduction to the sport came at the tender age of 1 when he went to the local track in Calgary with his father.

“I was always that kid standing at the fence watching the cars go by,” he said.

“When I was 4, I got my first go-cart.

“At an early age, probably the speed,” he said of what fascinated him the most.

“As I grew up, it became a lot more interesting. About actual racing ... the strategy, the danger element and not just turning left. There is a whole lot more that is involved.

“It takes endurance, you have to be physically (fit) to run the race,” he added.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand that. To be successful, you don’t want to be tired with 20 laps left. That’s when you want to be at your best.”

To stay in shape, the 6-foot-2 high school junior plays a lot of basketball and volleyball.

And like most drivers — “the end goal is to get to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” he said.

Time trials tonight begin at 6 with racing at 7.

The main-event winner will receive $8,000 from a total purse of more than $35,000.

A full night of racing is scheduled with bombers, hornets, legends and bandoleros also in action.