Legends keep Walker on track

Scott Walker is as serious about racing as he's ever been.

He's just doing it on a different level now.

The 28-year-old former late model (six years) and midget (three seasons) driver will compete in the Legend Series semi-pro division tonight at Montana Raceway Park.

The 10th annual Legend Thunder INEX National Qualifying event has 24 cars entered.

Qualifying starts at 6 p.m. with racing at 7.

Winners of the three classes - pro, semi-pro and masters - are allowed entry in the National Legends event in Las Vegas in October.

Also competing tonight are Bombers, with a 50-lap main event, Hornets, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters.

"I've taken my racing so seriously the last 10 years, my goal this year is to have fun and not worry so much about it," he said.

"This is something I can afford to do by myself and does not require the same amount of time."

Walker says he was consumed by racing as a successful late model and midget driver. He was the season points champ at Yakima Speedway in 2003 and ranked fifth in the region.

His other accomplishments included winning the Desert Start 125 at Tri-City and the Riverside 150 in Hermiston, Ore., in 2009.

Being competitive, however, had its price.

"I put the long hours in the shop making a late model, it was nonstop," he said.

"I had to find a crew to consistently be there - five guys to just have a good team. It got to the point where all the money I was spending, I'd much rather go to Hawaii with it.

"I'm hoping with the move, it's something I don't have to dedicate my whole life to," he continued.

"I have that competitive edge in me and I can get that out of my system (racing Legends)."

Walker said his years behind the wheel as a late model driver taught him how to handle doorhandle-to-doorhandler traffic and to stay calm.

Driving a 350 horsepower midget that weighed 900 pounds "taught me control."

That has helped his transition to Legends be a smooth one.

"They are twitchy," he said.

"They roll over a little bit; easy to get loose. When my car is set up, I feel in control."

A couple of Walker's racing buddies made the switch before he did. They purchased two Legends in Spokane last June.

"I thought they were cute, that was about it," he said.

But he had no intention of ever driving one.

But after some prodding by his friends, he took a few laps in a Legend and was instantly hooked.

Last year he raced his Legend six times, finishing first three times, second twice and third once.

He won the first two races he competed in at State Line and Hermiston.

Walker has raced just once this season, setting a new track lap record in Hermiston. He also won the heat race that time out and was on his way to a main event victory when disaster struck.

"I was in the lead with two laps left," he said.

"I was passing the lap car. He hit my left rear and I spun out."

That sent him to the pits.

The Prosser, Wash., native turned 50 laps on Friday at MRP in preparation for today's race.

"I think we're close. I think we can when we fine tune it tomorrow," he said of having a winning car.

"I like the high-banked corners," he said of MRP.

"A quarter-mile in size is just right for these cars. This has more grip than the track I race on."

This will be Walker's first race at MRP. And a much anticipated one.

He came here 11 years ago for a Super 4 race. That event was rained out.

"I got to look at the track," he said of that visit.

He wanted to compete in the Montana 200, but that big-money event always conflicted with the family's wheat harvest in Washington.

And weather permitting, he will finally get his chance tonight.

"This track is great," he said.

"In my opinion, it's the best facility in the Northwest."