Ross Bailes talking with Barry Wright in the Volunteer Speedway pit area
Some of the top drivers in Dirt Late Model racing were on hand Thursday night for the Ultimate Super Late Model Series sanctioned Scorcher at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. In what might be considered a bit of a surprise move, Ross Bailes of Clover, SC was entered in the event driving for legendary chassis builder Barry Wright.
Wright began the 2017 season by reuniting with driver Jonathan Davenport but the two parted ways earlier this summer after experiencing less than stellar results in the Barry Wright Race Cars house car.
Wright, who runs his racing operation out of Cowpens, SC, then secured Bailes as the pilot of his new ICON Chassis bearing the number 40 in honor of his 40th year in the sport.
“Me and Barry spoke last Monday, I believe,” Bailes told InsideDirtRacing.com. “He asked if I was interested in driving and I told him I’d love to give it a try. We actually have our motors in the car so hopefully it will be good.”
The No. 40 Barry Wright Race Cars house car
The newly formed team plans to jump right in to full competition as they hope to run four races in their first weekend together. Those events include the Scorcher at Volunteer Speedway followed by another Ultimate Super Late Model Series race in Crossville, Tenn. on Friday. Two Southern Nationals Bonus Series events will follow at North Georgia Speedway and Rome(GA) Speedway on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
No definite plans have been made regarding how long the newly formed relationship will last but the driver offered some guidance.
“We’re for sure doing it this weekend,” Bailes explained. “We’ve talked about doing maybe the rest of the year. I guess we’ll just see if everything goes as planned.”
How long does Bailes anticipate the adjustment period with a new car and team to take?
“It make take a little bit of time but I don’t think it will take that long,” he speculated. “Hopefully we’ll get all the bugs worked out.”
The driver feels confident that he and Wright can get the job done.
“You’ve just got to be able to trust what you’re in and be as fast and smooth as you can. We came to this track earlier in the year and ran good so I’m looking forward to it.”
In their first time out together, Bailes set fast time in his group qualifying and finished second in the Ultimate Super Late Model Series feature at Volunteer Speedway for BWRC.
