At 21 years of age, Cale Bailey is about to embark on one of the biggest adventures of his life and he couldn’t be happier about it. The Port Hope, Ontario resident – named after NASCAR racing legend Cale Yarborough – will climb behind the wheel of a NAPA Auto Parts Late Model stock car, competing in the headline class at Kawartha Speedway. A go kart racing graduate and past champion with Toronto’s Goodwood karting club, Bailey says he can’t wait for the Fraserville, Ontario oval’s 10th Anniversary season to get underway.
“I’ve been looking forward to an opportunity like this nearly all my life,” said the culinary training student at Loyalist College in Belleville. “I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m used to going to school so I’m hoping to gain as much knowledge as I can. I’ve heard so many great things about the other late model drivers and how helpful they can be when it comes to showing the rest of us the ropes.”
Cale Bailey is proud to be carrying on a family racing tradition. His grandfather Bud is a past champion at Brighton Speedway and earned a track title in 1971. His father Greg also tried his hand at the sport running a super late model and ACT car during the 80’s and 90’s. Another tradition Bailey is looking to continue will be racing with blue oval power under the hood. His ACT Tour legal machine will feature the only Ford crate motor in the track’s weekly field.
“Whenever there has been a racecar in our garage, it’s always been a Ford,” said Bailey. “I know that almost everyone else is running a Chevy crate – no matter what sheet metal is on the outside of the car – but we’re going with what we know. The rulebook says we need a crate motor, so we called Roush-Yates and placed an order for an s347jr power plant. As far as I know, it’s the first one in the province.”
To kick-off his maiden voyage in a late model, Cale Bailey’s weapon of choice will be a rolling chassis acquired from former OSCAAR champion John Fletcher. The team – including crew members Glen Pearce, Mike Smith and Tom Stothart is currently busy getting the car ready for competition and expects the Ford Fusion sheet metal to be installed within the next few weeks. Long time friend and now sponsor/car owner Iain Adamson of Better Business Equipment has made a commitment for the full 2010 Kawartha Speedway schedule and selected American-Canadian Tour events. The team – known as Rocket Line Racing – will carry sponsorship from Adamson’s newest venture, Rocket Line High Speed DSL and Bailey’s Automotive.
From the humble beginnings at the controls of a go kart at the age of 10, with race winning efforts here at home and tracks in the United States to a club championship with the Hurricane Midgets in just his second season of oval track racing, Cale Bailey is anxious to take the next step in his motorsports career. Fans of the blue oval have a great deal to look forward to as the #67 NAPA Auto Parts Late Model charges into Kawartha Speedway’s 2010 season.
The 10th Anniversary campaign promises some exciting action. To see the complete schedule – including the late model Summer Sizzler Friday, July 9th – see www.kawarthaspeedway.com.
Photo attachment: A go kart and Hurricane Midget grad, Cale Bailey will be a rookie in Kawartha Speedway’s NAPA Auto Parts Late Model division when the season opens Friday, June 4th.
Release and Photo by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
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