Matt Billings Impressive Big Block Modified Debut Thwarted By Late Race Mechanical Failure at Canandaigua Motorsports Park Season Opener

After a long winter, nobody was happier to get back to the racetrack than Brockville, Ontario racer Matt Billings.  He made the trip to Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Friday for some practice laps, before making his Big Block Modified debut on Saturday night in the 3^rd annual Jan Corcoran Memorial. 

Billings struggled a little on Friday night, as he had his Kevin Enders Big Block Modified out for the first time.  He was 14^th out of 22 in the first practice session, and dropped to 18^th on the speed charts in session number two.  They arrived back at the track on Saturday, and were determined to get the car handling better before they went out for their heat race.  A poor draw coming in through the gate meant that Billings would have to start near the rear of his heat race, but before the end of the 10 lap qualifier, he was challenging for a transfer spot into the main event.  He finished just outside of the top five, and would be forced to run the last chance consolation race.  He started the consi from third place, and quickly moved to second at the drop of the green flag.  After a great battle for the lead, Billings made a pass for the win on the final lap, earning the top spot, and a 23^rd starting spot for the 64 lap main event.

“Our main goal for the day was to make the race, and we have done that”, says Billings.  “Now we want to get out there and run every lap and see where we stack up against this great field of cars here”.

Billings moved up through the field cautiously at the drop of the green flag.  By lap 21 he had cracked the top 15 and continued to run strong, battling his way up to 12^th place before they completed lap 30.  Over the next 20 laps, Billings had battled up to seventh place, and was holding his own against some of the best drivers in the business and future Hall of Fame racers Danny Johnson and Billy Decker.  Billings continued to run strong as the final laps of the race counted down, until an untimely mechanical failure ended the day just two laps before the checkered flag.

“We had an issue with the fuel pump”, says a disappointed Billings after coming back into the pit area after the race.  “Although we didn’t get the finish we wanted, we proved that we can run well here, and I cant wait to get back next week”.

Billings will take part in the Brockville Ontario Speedway Fan Fair this Saturday from 10am to 1pm at Walmart in Brockville, before setting off the Canandaigua for week two of the 2013 season.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design for your support as we look forward to a very exciting 2013 season.

                                                           

For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.