Ronnie Wallace, upper right, of WFO Race Cars stands next to the frame of an IMCA modified race car at his new shop WFO Race Cars in Culbertson. The shop not only accommodates race car drivers, but owners of high performance vehicles and street rods with wide range of parts and services. Wallace welds the last few brackets onto a modified race car frame. Wallace custom builds the frames with the driver's safety in mind. The WFO line is Wallace's own design. 3RW is the IMCA modified car Wallace will be driving at the McCook Speedway and Culbertson race tracks this season. Wallace built the car along with several other area cars that will take to the local tracks. Wallace plans to race tonight in the first race of the 2008 season at the McCook Speedway. (Billie Cole/McCook Daily Gazette) [Click to enlarge]

CULBERTSON -- Racing and building a winning race car is the best job in the world according to Ronnie Wallace of WFO Race Cars in Culbertson. "It doesn't seem like a job when it's fun," said Ronnie. "It's great to see a race car you built win."

Wallace started WFO Race Cars in North Platte, before moving the company to Culbertson in February. "It seemed like the right time," said Wallace. "It felt right." After traveling from North Platte to Culbertson every day, Wallace eventually moved his family to McCook.

Ronnie grew up in North Platte and started racing motorcycles at an early age. In 1987, he made the move to cars and has earned more than 250 career wins. The WFO is Wallace's own design and his trademark. Each car is built with the driver's safety in mind. "Safety is number one," said Wallace.

Wallace builds each car from the ground up. His IMCA modifieds start with the standard Chevy Chevelle frame or Chevelle stub. From there he uses stronger and heavier metal tubing and welds more brackets into the frame to better protect the driver. The WFO cars also have a wider cockpit along with more reinforcement for driver safety.

After the frame is welded together, it is sent to Bieker's Quality Collison and Service in McCook for paint. Drivers can choose from wide array of colored aluminum sheets for the exterior. Wallace then cuts and shapes the sheets for the car. "It takes three weeks to build a car from the ground up," said Wallace.

Wallace's cars have been sold all over the United States with four sold in Canada. Several local drivers will take to the tracks this season in WFO cars including Brandon and Bryan Hagan, Mike Sadoff and John Huffman.

Wallace also will be competing this season, driving his own WFO IMCA modified, frequenting the McCook Speedway and Culbertson tracks.

WFO Race Cars is not just about building the cars; Wallace also stocks parts, tires, wheels and shocks for all kinds of race cars, high performance vehicles and streetrods. He also is adding sweatshirts, stickers and new apparel to his website at www.wforacecars.com.

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Sponsors like Deveny Motor Company, Don Hagan and Sons Trucking, B & M Drywall, Biekers Quality Collision and Repair, H & J and Guynam Machine and Steel have helped Ronnie with his racing and business.

"I wish all the racers good luck this season and I hope to see everyone at the races," said Ronnie.

Conveniently located west of the race track on Railroad Avenue in Culbertson the WFO Race Car shop is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For parts and service customers can call Wallace at 340-0122 or visit his Web site at www.wforacecars.com.