Cameron Hayley Enters Finale at Vegas

Hayley’s last full season in racing was his Rookie of the Year effort, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, in 2016. Hayley finished 11th in the championship standings that season, with six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Prior to that, Hayley had two championship runner-up finishes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. In 2013, Cameron finished second to four-time SRL Champion Derek Thorn in the West Series. In 2014 he finished second to Ben Rhodes in the East Series.

Hayley is excited to make his return to racing, with two individuals that were a big part of his racing past, and the many successes he has had in the sport. The deal came together quickly, as both the driver and team were eager to make it happen.

“I have known Jeff (Jefferson) and Jerry (Pitts) for a long-time now”, Hayley told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “I ran with them in the K&N West Series, with Jeff as my crew chief. Jeff actually used to run my Super Late Model program, back when I was 14 or 15. We won some major races back in the day. We won the Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway and the Fall Classic at Yakima Speedway, and some other big stuff like that.”

Hayley continued, “I had actually been looking for some racing opportunities, having been gone out of the sport the last couple of years. Last Friday I got a text message from Jeff, saying do you want to run the final SRL race of the year with us? I thought, ‘this is kind of intriguing’. A couple of days later it came to be. Jeff and Jerry had had a pretty good run with Gracin Raz at Vegas a couple of weeks ago, and really wanted to go back. Gracin couldn’t go, so Jerry thought ‘I wonder what Cameron is up to?’ So they sent me a text, and a couple of days later we were going. It was kind of a last minute thing, and it was cool to get the call for sure.”

Hayley will be making his first SPEARS Southwest Tour Series start, but it is a series that he has had his eye on for many years.

“The SRL has always been something I have followed, but I have never run with them”, Hayley commented. “I have run lots of Super Late Model races in my life, so I’m surprised I haven’t run an SRL race. I’m very excited. There are definitely a few of the competitors that I never raced against, so I am excited to see what they are like. Over and above all this, it’s just exciting to get back in a race car.”

Although Cameron hasn’t been in a race car in a few years, it doesn’t mean he has gone without satisfying some of his need for speed.

“I haven’t been in any particular race car, but I have been out to Spring Mountain MotorsportsResort near Pahrump, NV. They run kind of a racing Country Club. My dad and I are members there, and we have a couple of race breed Camaros out there, so I have been doing a little road course practicing, but not necessarily any racing. This will be my first time back this season, and for almost over two years.”

The 2011 Western Speed Association Series Champion, and 2013 NASCAR UNOH Battle of the Beach winner, is ready to get back behind the wheel of a Super Late Model. And he is thankful to those who have helped him in the past, and with his current return.

“The biggest thing is that I would like to thank my dad for sure”, Hayley said. “Over the past two years, we have been very heavy into the business side of things, with my dad’s business Cabinets by Hayley. We have been expanding the business, and we are extremely busy right now. He has always believed in me, to go out and live my dream. I would also like to thank Jeff Jefferson Fan’s Page and Jerry Pitts for giving me the opportunity, because without them giving me that call, I probably wouldn’t be doing this. Between the two of them and my dad, they have been such a big help.”

The final event of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will feature a full field of Super Late Models, at the 3/8th mile Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The SRL will be joined by the Lucas Oil Modified Series (just announced to be renamed to the “Spears Manufacturing Modified Series presented by Lucas Oil”), USAC HPD Midgets and Jr. Late Models. Spectator Gates open at 2:00 p.m., with Qualifying, “B” Features and Heat Races for the USAC HPD Midgets to follow. Opening Ceremonies are slated for 4 p.m. with Main Events to follow for the Lucas Oil Modifieds (split 40 lap features), Jr. Late Models, USAC HPD Midgets and the “Retro Custom Metals 150 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse San Dimas”.

Photo Credit: http://cameronhayley.com/