Biography

Jim Hegel got introduced to stock car racing in Spokane in 1965 by his uncles. They built 2 cars and got Jim to drive a '37 Ford in the C class while his uncle drove a modified. When he moved back to Kalispell in '66 one of the first places he visited was Tri-City Speedway and that flicker of a flame ignited by his uncles turned into a full blown raging fire.  Car racing was in his blood and he wasn't going to ignore it.

Jim built and drove cars in the C class, modifieds, super stocks and nostalgia classes. He finishd as season high point champion the last year at Tri-City in '72 and also the next year in '73, the first year of Big Sky Speedway. Jim just recently retired from racing with the Northwest Modifieds which are based out of Spokane and have run many times here at Montana Raceway Park.

He served as president of the NorthWest Montana Stock Car Racing Association as well as its Secretary & Treasurer. He also served as the flagman for several years. One of Jim's best memories is of the '54 Ford he built and raced.  He had put the drivers seat n the back seat section of the car and in doing so greatly improved the weight distribution and handling of the car.  In fact, he won so many races with it they finally passed rules against the practice.