March 24, 2023
Montgomery, AL — Wes Willis is a newcomer to the short track scene, participating in the Late Model Sportsman division at Montgomery Motor Speedway last year for his rookie season, driving the #00 car.
Willis, who is also a member of the Christian worship band Rush Of Fools, is by no means an outsider to the racing world, as he’s been an avid fan of the sport for years.
“I grew up going to Montgomery Motor Speedway with my grandfather,” Willis told us. “I spent most of my childhood Saturday nights during race season with him. So many good memories.”
Willis has also been working behind the scenes in the racing world for a few years now, helping out Street Stock racer Buddy Pitts and late model legend Bill Bethea.
“I helped Buddy with his car for a year and got the bug BAD. Bill has been a tremendous mentor of mine as I’ve plunged myself into racing. He’s helped me more than I can describe.”
Willis is still active with his band, but the schedule has eased up enough to let him chase this dream to race cars, and he is taking full advantage of this in 2023. After a solid rookie season in 2022 in which he brought home the Rookie of the Year award for the MMS Late Model Sportsman division, Willis has even bigger plans for this year, including racing in a second car.
“We added an Outlaw Late Model to the team this year and we’re pretty excited about that. The chassis itself is identical to the Late Model Sportsman. So, I wanted to be able to turn more laps and get more experience.” Willis also mentioned that because of the addition of the Outlaw car, he can run at a few more tracks such as Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Five Flags Speedway, and even a race out in Houston could be possible.
When asked about the competition he’s faced so far in his racing career, Willis had nothing but great things to say about the folks he’s shared the track with. “Different guys will help other guys work on their cars in the off-season. I really love that camaraderie off the track. It’s very clear though that during the race it’s as competitive as it gets. I respect that.”
Willis is optimistic about what the future holds for his team, and believes he’s in a great spot to keep up the good work he’s been putting into everything. “I was told that once you got into this sport it was hard to get out. I’ve been bitten by the bug pretty hard. I’m grateful that we’ve had some great sponsors like Wiggins Inc, Foshee Residential, GameTime SideKicks, Alabama Sweet Tea Co, Southern Trauma, and others. Right now, I’m having the time of my life.”
LRR wants to thank Wes Willis for taking the time to talk with us, and we’re looking forward to seeing what 2023 holds for him and his team. We’re sure we’ll cross paths at Montgomery soon, and like he told us earlier, maybe at some other tracks as well. Check out the links to all of his social media accounts below and give him a follow!
https://www.youtube.com/@willisracing00
Liberty Racing Review 