Drive to Thrive: Dominant Racing Team Puts Pedal-to-Metal in Battle with Cancer

On Saturday, KSU student Zach Ayers, driver of the No. 31 car for the Bass-Ayers Racing team, continued what has been a short history of great success on the asphalt. 

The 23-year old communications major won the first ever Triple Crown Championship in Pro-Challenge racing, a league similar to NASCAR that features vehicles that can reach 145 mph. Ayers has a history of significant success as a racer on all types of levels, though his definition of winning might deviate from the norm.

His definition of a challenge is unique too.

“We must stand up and fight this disease, one lap at a time,” is the declaration Ayers makes on his profile on the Racing 2 Cure webpage, an organization he and his current team manager of Bass-Ayers Racing and racing partner, Scott Tarrer, became involved with this year to help with the emotional battle many have against cancer.

Tarrer, 49, is a survivor of melanoma, which is a deadly form of skin cancer. His battle began at the most ironic of venues—the race track, a place he claims owns his heart—just seven years ago.

“I had a mole on my throat and in fact I was at the race-track and in the pits one time when my sister in law said to me, ‘man, that looks pretty bad,’” Tarrer said. “I went to the doctor and sat down and the doctor said, ‘It’s cancer. I can tell you that right now’.”

Sure enough, it was. Tarrer had tests done on the mole that would not be evaluated and relayed back to him for seven days. He said it was “the longest seven days of my life.”

“Hearing the ‘C’ word is harsh. It was total chaos for me,” Tarrer said. Luckily, Tarrer had a quick and easy recovery. He had the mole removed and only went through one radiation treatment.

“I didn’t have to do the chemo, thank God,” Tarrer said. He is now healthy, receiving only checkups once a year. While his battle was short, it was a terrifying experience that raised his awareness for others who undoubtedly fight tougher battles with the disease.

“I just tell people that it’s very important to pay attention to the things that go on with your body,” Tarrer said.

Tarrer joined with Ayers, who he met as a racing coach with kart driving when Ayers was just 15-years old. Ayers began racing when he was 9-years old.

“It started with my great uncle and great grandfather. They raced dirt bikes back in the day and built their own motors and things like that. My dad and my uncle are both into building motors. We just are all fans of racing and kind of know what we are doing,” Ayers said.

Ayers started off in a two-seater go-kart he bought from his cousin for $350. He raised money for it by mowing his grandmothers’ backyard. Once he got his wheels, Ayers got in contact with Andretti Indoor Carting and Games in Alpharetta, Ga., winning a championship even though he wasn’t old enough to legally drive a real car.

That victory led to a six-hour long endurance race in the infield of Lowes Motor Speedway, one of the top tracks in the country for stockcar racing. He won that event too.

Despite his successes, Ayers was taken back to Tarrer, who began his battle with cancer almost simultaneously at the same time he began coaching Ayers. The team formed a bond and looked for a way to use their position as an outlet for helping others.

“As a team, Scott and I decided that we wanted to use this team to glorify God and make a difference in people’s lives,” Ayers said. “It just kind of came down to, as a race team, how do we do that? A lot of race teams don’t have that goal.”

Ayers lost his grandfather to cancer, which was an event that he held close to his heart. The mutual awareness led to the team joining Racing 2 Cure.

2012 is the first year the team has partnered with Racing 2 Cure, which exists to help with the human side of cancer by raising funds for families who are battling the disease.

Fund benefits go to travel expenses, temporary housing, utility bills, car payments, transporation, rent, insurance premiums, medical equipment, after school activities, day care, tutoring and house/ yard services for those who are or have a family member struggling with cancer.

Despite significant success on the track for Ayers, the Bass-Ayers Racing team sends all of its funds from winnings to Racing 2 Cure benefits. The team does not make a profit.

“Racing funds do not go into our pockets in anyway or feed our dinner or something like that,” Ayers said. “The benefit is that we do team appearances and donate and in return receive sponsorships. They kind of return the favor for us.”

So, what motivates Ayers to get in the car again and again? Tarrer has a simple answer: heart.

“He’s a true racer from the heart,” Tarrer said. “I learned a long time ago the mistakes I made in racing were simply because I didn’t race from the heart. Zach races with heart. His success comes from his passion. He focuses, listens well. His success comes from the love of the sport and allowing God to drive him.”

This is the team’s first year in Pro-Challenge racing. Heading into the event this past weekend, the team was 25 points ahead in the standings for the Georgia region and in sixth place, nationally. There are four Pro-Challenge divisions, including Georgia, Georgia- Florida, Alabama and Canada.

The team is looking for rookie of the year status, and has hopes of someday making it to the big show.

“Yes, definitely. It’s for sure not impossible,” Ayers said about the prospect of someday making it to the Sprint Cup Series of NASCAR. “We are waiting for some sponsors to come through and help us,” Ayers said.

“We just kind of have to take things one step at a time. We are a Christian based race team and have to trust God to provide for us. We have to keep pushing and pushing,” Ayers said.

NASCAR symbolizes the pinnacle of Bass-Ayers Racing, but the team has made it very evident that the winning formula doesn’t come from wins or losses, but from what the team success can do for others.

“What it does is give me that platform to raise the money,” Tarrer said about the winnings. “It gives you an opportunity to help families, and to say I’m with you, I love you, I care about you and you can get through it.”

Because of the purpose and efforts of Bass-Ayers Racing, the actual team members span more than just a driver and a coach/manager. The team members are everyone and anyone helped by what Bass- Ayers racing does.

And, thanks to Bass-Ayers Racing, the ride of life and dealing with hardship has become significantly smoother.