10/12/2026
🔦 RACER SPOTLIGHT: JASON M. WALLIS
Some racers grow up dreaming of getting behind the wheel. Others find their way there because the people around them believe it's their turn.
For Jason Wallis of Noble, Oklahoma, it was the second one.
Long before he started competing, Jason was already part of the Thunder Valley racing family. He was the guy who showed up, spent time with friends, and was always willing to lend a hand when another racer needed one.
That generosity didn't go unnoticed.
A few years ago, his wife Kayla and father-in-law Keith Lewis decided it was time for Jason to be on the receiving end. They surprised him with his first race car, figuring that someone who spent so much time helping everyone else ought to have a chance to race, too.
And just like that, another racer joined the family.
Of course, Thunder Valley had already given Jason something even more meaningful than a race car.
It's where he met his wife. ❤️
Jason first met Kayla while watching index racing from B**r Hill near the eighth-mile stripe. What started as time spent at the racetrack became a relationship, a family, and a shared passion that continues to bring them back.
And the memories have only gotten better.
When Jason took his 1978 Chevy Camaro out for the first time, he figured he probably should have just made a few test passes. But he had a feeling the car could run the 6.0 index, so he decided to enter the race instead.
He went home with the win! 🏆
Another unforgettable night came when Jason and Keith both made it to the semifinals of a bracket race. Jason went on to win the event, making the victory even sweeter because it happened on Keith's birthday.
Those are the moments that stick with you. Not just because of the win light, but because of who was there to share it.
Today, Jason competes in bracket and 6.0 index racing with his full-tube 1978 Camaro, a car he loves for its ability to hang a wheel and make a straight pass.
But ask him what he loves most about racing, and his answer has nothing to do with horsepower, elapsed times, or trophies.
"Everyone helps everyone."
That's what makes the racing community special to Jason. He knows firsthand what it means to have people in your corner, and he tries to be that person for others, too.
He credits Kayla and Keith for pushing him to race and supporting him every step of the way, along with Brandon Shinn and family for helping make it all possible. He's also grateful to the sponsors who support Thunder Valley and to the track itself for giving local racers a place close to home to do what they love.
Outside the track, Jason works for Hugg & Hall Equipment in dock and door services. But when race weekend arrives, there's another goal waiting for him.
His first NHRA Wally.
And when he offers advice to someone who's thinking about giving drag racing a try, it comes from the same welcoming spirit that brought him into the sport:
Come to the track. Talk to the racers. Ask questions. Get involved. You can even start bracket racing in your daily driver. You don't have to know everything or have the perfect car.
You just have to be willing to show up.
Because chances are, someone will be there to help you get started.
Jason's story is about more than a Camaro or a collection of wins. It's about what happens when people look out for one another — when friendship turns into family, encouragement turns into opportunity, and an ordinary night at the racetrack becomes a memory you'll carry for the rest of your life.
Jason spent years helping others make their racing memories. Thanks to the people who believed in him, he's making plenty of his own.
Thank you, Jason, for sharing your story and reminding us what makes the Thunder Valley racing family so special.
We're glad you're part of it. 🚦
📸 Photo credit: Lanny Wallace / Wallace Motorsports Photography (credited photograph)
