Racing strengthens bond for Taves family

James Taves of Glyndon had been out of racing for several years when his daughter, Ashley said she wanted to get into a race car herself a few years ago.  He decided was time for a comeback.

“I told my dad that I wanted to start, randomly, and he’s like ‘we’ll put you in a car,’” Ashley said. “And then he started racing again, too.”

The two will be among the drivers competing at the Corn Cob Nationals this Saturday and Sunday at Buffalo River Speedway near Glyndon.

Ashley started her career and James resumed racing prior to the 2024 season. Ashley hopped in an IMCA Hobby Stock, racing at Buffalo River Speedway near Glyndon, while James picked up an IMCA Sport Mod.

“I’ve always seen the outside of it,” Ashley said. “It’s so much more fun being in a car vs watching outside of it.”

James Taves, also known as the Turkey Man in local racing, started racing enduros in the early 1990s, and moved into the Outlaw Street Stock class at Red River Valley Speedway.

“My dad has been racing forever and I’ve been around it since I was born,” Ashley said.

James, 54, moved into the Wissota Super Stock  class in 2001 and ran Wissota Modifieds for several years before taking a hiatus.

“My boys got into football and basketball, so I took a step back,” James said.

Ashley went to the races as a fan for several years before getting the itch to drive a car herself.

“Ashley being involved with it, that’s huge,” James said. “She comes to every race with us. The whole family usually gets pretty involved in it.”

Ashley has recorded one top five finish over the past three seasons.

“I’ve learned so much,” Ashley said. “I feel like I’ve gotten faster this year than I have been the last two years.”

For James, there have been some tense moments watching his daughter on the track. Including the second night out in 2024 when she rolled her #26 car.

“It’s very nerve-wracking,” James said “The second night out, she rolled it. That got my nerves up a little bit.”

James picked up a feature win in 2024 and added another in 2025. He finished fourth in the points at Buffalo River this season with four top five finishes in seven starts at the 1/4-mile.

“It’s been fun,” James said. “It’s like riding a bike. I’m still a greenhorn, learning a lot. But it’s been a lot of fun.”

Ashley graduated from Grand Canyon University in Arizona last December.  She has returned to school this fall and is pursuing her doctorate in occupational therapy. With that school commitment she is unsure if she will race in 2027; if she does, James said it’s time to upgrade her motor.

“She’s getting a lot better,”  James said. “We’re going to put a new motor in it. This motor is pretty much worn out. It’s perfect for her; now she’s telling me she needs more power.”

 “If I do (race), we are hoping to put in a bigger motor so I can go a little bit faster and keep up with the pace of things,” Ashley said.

If you want to know why James Taves is known as the Turkey Man locally, is because he owns a large Turkey farm operation near Glyndon. The farm raises 2.5 million pounds of turkey a year, and Taves sponsors several race cars in the region with his familiar “Eat Turkey” phrase often located on the back of the cars.

“I help a lot of guys out. It’s a lot of fun,” James said.  “They’re all great friends.”

For Ashley Taves, racing has strengthened the bond with her father.

“We’ve always been super close; I feel like it has brought me and my dad closer,” Ashley said. “It’s a great experience for both of us to share our passion together in the summers.”

Driver Profiles

James Taves

IMCA Sport Mod #26

Age: 54

Residence: Glyndon, Minn.

Ashley Taves

IMCA Hobby Stock #26

Age: 22

Residence: Glyndon, Minn.

Sponsors (between the two cars): Midtown Tavern and Duane’s, OLR , Al’s Auto Parts All American Plumbing and Heating, Premier Service Center, Valley Tire, Dave’s Storage Rental, Burnside Trucking, T&T Repairables, Driveway Service, Country Financial, Cash Concrete, R&R Farms, Randall’s Excavating