Monday, 8 April 2013

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 3rd 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 14th out of 22 in the first practice session, and dropped to 18th 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 23rd 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 12th 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.

Monday, 1 April 2013

Matt Billings Set For Big Block Modified Debut This Weekend at Canandaigua Motorsports Park; New Website Coming Soon

The long off-season is now over, and nobody is more anxious to get 2013 started then Brockville, Ontario racer Matt Billings. He will embark on his rookie season in the Big Block Modified division, and will get started this weekend as he makes his debut at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, located just east of Rochester, New York off the New York State Thruway.

Billings and his team will leave for Canandaigua on Friday, and will participate in a couple practice sessions on Friday night. Saturday will be their first race of the 2013 season with the 3rd annual Jan Corcoran Memorial event, with a 64 lap $6400 to win main event. This will be Matt’s first start in the Big Block, but has raced at Canandaigua in the past following the Sportsman DIRTcar Series, and is excited about being a full time competitor in 2013.

“We are really looking forward to seeing how we stack up against the best of the best”, says Billings on his transition to Big Block Modifieds and the stellar field at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. “The track is a big half mile, and we have had some success on the big tracks in the past. It has been a long winter and we are ready to get the season started”.

Billings will have a busy 2013 schedule. He will compete at Canandaigua weekly in 2013, and plans to follow the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series schedule. He will also have a 358 Modified ready for action, with a weekly program tentatively set for Mohawk International Raceway on Friday nights, and a few special events at other tracks.

Matt Billings will soon be launching a brand new website over the next couple weeks from Finish Line Web Design. Stay tuned to MattBillings74.com as we revamp to a more interactive website that we think everyone will enjoy.

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.

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Matt Billings Announces Plans to Race Weekly at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in 2013; Season to Start Early With Some RoC Events

With a new season on the horizon, Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team have been hard at work in their Brockville, Ontario shop getting the equipment ready for the another year or racing. However, the 2013 season will be unlike any other season, as they make the transition from a Small Block Modified, to a more powerful Big Block Modified.

Billings plans to race weekly at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in 2013, and will also have a Small Block Modified available as well, although plans for that have not been decided at this time. In addition to the Big Block car and the Small Block car, Matt will also have a Syracuse only car that will be stored away until Super DIRT Week rolls around in October.

“We are pretty excited about the upcoming season”, says Billings. “We always enjoyed racing at home, and the competition is great, but we are ready to move on to the Big Blocks and race against some of the best Modified racers around. We feel that by racing at a track as tough as Canandaigua will only improve our overall program for years to come”.

Canandaigua opens the 2013 season on Saturday, April 6th for the Jan Corcoran Memorial 64 lap, $6400 to win event. Billings, will get an earlier start however, as they tentatively plan to travel to Selinsgrove Speedway in Pennsylvania for the RoC Series Icebreaker Weekend on March 16th.

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.

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Matt Billings 2012 Season in Review; Three Feature Wins Highlighted a Season of Consistency for the Billings Motorsports Team


The 2012 racing season was a year of consistency for Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team.  They had three wins during the year, and finished in the top 10 on 35 occasions out of 45 events.  They ended the year in the top five in points at both Mohawk Raceway and Brockville Speedway, and finished second in the three-race Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Series at Mohawk and fifth in the three-race Canadian Nationals Series at Cornwall Speedway.

Billings started the year off with a return trip to North Carolina after being named an Ambassador for the Race 101 School that he attended in 2010.  When the racing season began, he started off at Merrittville Speedway for the first two weeks of the season, and although they didn’t get the finishes they had hoped for they did gain valuable experience on a very tough track to figure out. 

When the season opened at their own local tracks, Matt started the year off with seven straight top ten finishes, including a win at Brockville to close out the month of May.  They opened up June with a hard crash that resulted in their first DNF of the season, but bounced back to post another string of top ten finishes towards the end of the month.  In early July, Matt posted top ten finishes in a streak that included a big 50 lap Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Series win at Mohawk.  The end of July through mid-September was the best run of consistency for the Billings team, posting 14 consecutive top ten finishes, that also included another win at Brockville and a couple strong finishes with the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series.  In late September, Billings hit a streak of bad luck, having a mechanical failure while leading the race at Brighton, followed by two disappointing performances at Cayuga County and Rolling Wheels.  He got back on track at Syracuse with his career best finish in the Gander Mountain 150 with a sixth place result.

“Looking back, we had a pretty good year, but there were some frustrating times as well”, recalls Billings of his 2012 season.  “We had a few wins, and some really good finishes, but we had quite a bit of bad luck as well.  We will continue to work hard over the off-season on our program and will be back stronger then ever in 2013.  We are not sure exactly what we have in store for next year just yet, but we are looking forward to getting back to the track”.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support during the 2012 season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we look forward to the 2013 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Matt Billings Top Five Run Turns to Disaster After Contact From Another Car Leaves Him With Front End Damage in 2012 Season Finale at the BOS


Fresh off his stellar performance for the fourth year in a row at Super DIRT Week in Syracuse, Matt Billings and his Billings Motorsports team returned to their hometown Brockville Ontario Speedway this past weekend for their final race of the 2012 season. The last race in the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Speedway was on the schedule as part of the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals and Billings was hoping for a solid finish to end the 2012 campaign.

It was a great start to the afternoon for Billings, setting fast time in his time trial session.  His speed ended up fourth fastest out of the 42 cars on hand.  He backed that up with a second place finish in his heat race, earning a redraw spot, guaranteeing a top ten starting position for the 100 lap main event.  Matt would draw position number nine, and started the race from the inside of row five.  At the drop of the green flag, Billings inched forward and was up to sixth by lap 20.  Over the next few laps, Matt was able to climb into the top five and held that spot through lap 45 when contact from another car folded up the front end on his car, ending his afternoon just shy of the halfway point.

“We had a great car, and we were in position to ride around for a bit and conserve our tires for the finish”, says a disappointed Billings after the race.  “I really thought we had a great chance in this race, and we were all pretty optimistic going in, but it wasn’t meant to be I guess”.

Despite the way the final race ended, Billings still had a solid 2012 season.  He was the only driver that finished in the top five in points in both 2011 and 2012 at Brockville Speedway.  He finished the season with three feature wins and ended up fourth overall in the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified point standings.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support during the 2012 season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we look forward to the 2013 season.
                                                          
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Matt Billings Scores Sixth Place Finish in Gander Mountain 150 at Super DIRT Week XLI; Brockville Speedway Fall Nationals Coming up Next


There is no question that Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team puts a lot of emphasis on racing at Syracuse.  They have a car that sits in the shop all year long that is used for Syracuse only.  Ever since Matt won the Sportsman race during Super DIRT Week in 2009, it has become his goal to run well, and eventually win the 358 Modified main event.

Billings arrived in Syracuse on Tuesday and went through the usual early bird pre-race inspection process.  On Wednesday, they prepared their weekly car for competition at Cayuga County Fair Speedway for the next stop on the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series on Wednesday night.  After a day of practice at the Fairgrounds on Thursday, they headed to Rolling Wheels Raceway on Thursday night for another DIRTcar Series race.  On Friday it was more practice and qualifying at the Fairgrounds, and the heat race on Friday night.  Saturday was the Gander Mountain 150 for the 358 Modifieds.

At Cayuga County Speedway on Wednesday, Billings set fast time in his group in opening practice, and was optimistic that they would have a good night.  In time trials, Billings struggled a little, and would be fifth fastest, placing him on the inside of row three to start his heat race.  Billings finished his heat race in the fifth position, and would have to run the last chance B-main in order to qualify.  Billings struggled once again, and was forced to utilize a provisional starting spot that he earned by being in the top 12 in DIRTcar Series points.  The problems continued through the race, and Billings was scored with a disappointing 20th place result.

After getting some practice in at the Fairgrounds on Thursday, Billings was back at Rolling Wheels on Thursday night for the next round of the DIRTcar 358 Modified series.  Billings struggled early, having to run the last chance B-main once again, and would start the race from the tail of the field.  Problems with the car put him out early, and he would be scored with a 30th place finish.

Friday was time trial day for the 358 Modifieds at the Fairgrounds.  Billings posted the 30th fastest speed overall.  Although they hoped for better time trial results, the team was confident that the car would be good under race conditions.  Qualifying heat races were up next on Friday evening.  Billings would start 15th in his heat, and advanced to 10th place, securing a starting spot in the Gander Mountain 150 on Saturday.

Billings started the main event from the 20th starting position and patiently moved forward in the early stages of the race.  After advancing to 16th in the first 40 laps, The Billings Motorsports team made a lightning fast pit stop while many other teams stayed out on the track.  Hoping their strategy would pay off, Billings continued.  By lap 50 he was in 25th place.  Although he was deep in the field, he knew that most of the cars ahead of him would still have to make their pit stop.  As the race hit the halfway point, Matt continued to climb through the field and was now in the 18th position and would advance two more positions over the next 25 laps.  With 10 laps remaining, Billings made his way into the top ten, and would finish the race with an outstanding sixth place effort.

“It was a great run for us again this year.  Every year we seem to keep improving our position”, says Billings.  “We wont be satisfied until we can win this thing, but I am pretty proud of the team for all their hard work.  I wouldn’t be able to do this without them, and our sponsors”.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Mechanical Issue Sidelines Matt Billings Early in Saturday Night’s 358 Modified Series Race at Brighton Speedway; Super DIRT Week is Next

After a pair of solid finishes in the last two 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series races, Matt Billings was looking to continue his recent success as the series made its inaugural appearance at Brighton Speedway during their annual Applefest Weekend on Saturday night.

After dealing with some ignition issues earlier in the night at Brighton, Billings came out for his qualifying session and set fast time in his group, earning a front row starting spot in his qualifying heat race. Billings ran a great race, picking up the win in his heat, and would get an all important spot in the redraw for a top 12 staring position for the 100 lap main event. Billings drew position number two, and started from the outside of the front row. The caution came out on lap one, setting up a restart, and just as they went back to green, the ignition problems returned as they were on the throttle coming out of turn four. Billings was done for the night before they completed lap 2.

“We had a great car in the qualifying and heat race, and I was really looking forward to the feature”, says Billings after the race. “There was nothing I could do, there was no notice at all, the car just quit as we were about to restart the race. It is frustrating, but we will go back home, and change everything on the car that may have been the problem, and get ready for Super DIRT Week”.

Billings will have the weekend off this week from the track, but they will be busy in their Brockville, Ontario race shop preparing for Super DIRT Week. Billings will race his weekly car at Cayuga County Fair Speedway on Rolling Wheels Raceway during the satellite events, and will also race at the New York State Fairgrounds next week looking to continue his Syracuse success that includes a win at the track in 2009 in the Sportsman Championship event.

“I have always enjoyed racing at Syracuse, and we have run really well there in the past”, says Billings. “Hopefully we can continue to improve again this year, and contend for the win in the Gander Mountain 150”.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season. Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.

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

Monday, 17 September 2012

Matt Billings Captures First Ever DIRTcar 358 Modified Podium Finish After Third Place Run at Mohawk International Raceway


After finishing sixth in the last Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series at Autodrome Granby last weekend, Matt Billing was looking forward to continuing the series on more familiar turf as Mohawk International Raceway hosted their season finale on Saturday night.  Although he planned to run just the 358 Modified race on Saturday, the Big Block Modified show was postponed to earlier in the day, and Billings decided to try to qualify for that race as well.

When Billings left their Brockville, Ontario home on Saturday, they knew they were in store for a very long day at the track, with rain postponing virtually all of Friday’s events into Saturday afternoon, and then a full show also taking place on Saturday night.  Time Trials for the Big Block Modified had been completed on Friday, so Billings would have to attempt to qualify from the rear of the field in the heat race.  He started at the back, and charged to fifth place, locking himself into the Big Block event.  He started the race from 18th and steadily moved forward in the opening laps of the race, and had been challenging for a top ten position.  The second half of the race, the tires wore out, and Billings dropped out of contention.

The Saturday evening event is what really mattered for Billings, and the information they gained by racing during the day helped the team prepare for the Saturday night 358 Modified Series race.  Matt was second fastest in his time trial group and finished his heat race in second as well, making the redraw for a top 12 starting spot.  Matt took advantage of a top five starting spot, and moved up to challenge for the lead numerous occasions before being slowed by a caution on lap 28.  The restart on the outside lane proved costly as he slipped to third on a lap 36 restart.  Billings maintained that position through the final laps of the race to score his first ever podium finish with the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series.

“It was a great run for us.  We almost had the lead there earlier, but the caution came out, then we got stuck on the outside”, says Billings.  “I think if we could have stayed under green, we may have been able to get the lead, and maybe it would have been a different outcome, but that’s racing”.

This coming weekend, Billings will travel to Brighton Speedway for the next round of the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series.  This will be an inaugural DIRTcar Series event at Brighton and Billings will be looking to move up from his fourth place position in the DIRTcar point standings.

The next couple weeks will be spent preparing the Syracuse car for this year’s Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on October 2nd to 7th.  The 2012 season will conclude at Brockville on October 13th and 14th for the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Matt Billings Impressive at Autodrome Granby With Sixth Place Finish in Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Race; Mohawk Raceway Finale Coming Up


With the 2012 regular season now over, Matt Billings and his Billings Motorsports team begin traveling to some of the bigger races with the 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series.  The first stop was at Autodrome Granby this past Friday night.

Billings posted the fourth fastest time in his group during opening practice, and picked up the pace in time trials moving to second place on the leaderboard, giving him a front row starting spot in the 75 lap main event.  He ended the qualifying heat race in second place, earning a spot in the redraw for a top 12 starting spot for the feature.  He selected a front row starting spot, and lead the star studded field to the green flag.  Matt got off to a great start, leading the opening 14 laps of the race until the first and only caution slowed the pace.  On the restart, he dropped to second place and held that spot for the next 30 laps as the tires began to go away on the Billings Automotive sponsored Bicknell.  On the final lap, he fell to sixth place, but still a fantastic run on a track that he very minimal experience at.

“It was a great run for us, I just wish we could have remained in the top five”, says Billings after the race.  “It feels great to come out here to a track that we haven’t had much experience at and put up a solid performance like this”.

The next race on the schedule for Billings will be this coming Saturday night at Mohawk International Raceway as they close out the 2012 season with a Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series race.  The following weekend the Billings Motorsports team will travel to Brighton Speedway on September 22nd before focusing on their Super DIRT Week plans.

“We are really looking forward to the next few races coming up, especially Super DIRT Week”, says Billings.  “We won there in the Sportsman car back in 2009, and I have loved that place ever since”.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Matt Billings Closes Out 2012 Regular Season With Top Five Finishes at Mohawk and Brockville; 10th at Cornwall in DIRTcar 358 Modified Series


Entering the final week of 2012 regular season last week, Matt Billings was in a position to put him self amongst the top five in points at both weekly tracks that he races at.  With an outstanding field of cars in the 358 Modified division each week at both Mohawk Raceway and Brockville Speedway, finishing amongst the top five is no easy task, but Billings and his team were up to the challenge.

The Labor Day weekend events kicked off a day early at Mohawk Raceway, as they raced on Thursday night instead of their usual Friday night date.  It was a big night with plenty on the line as the 2012 overall track championship would be decided as would the 2012 Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” 358 Modified Series.  While the track championship was out of reach as long as the point leaders finished the race, the Frenchie’s Series was very much up for grabs as Matt entered the night tied for the lead.  After a second place finish in his qualifying heat, he started in the eighth position for the 50 lap main event.  Over the opening laps, he patiently bided his time, and as the race hit the 20 lap mark, he was up to fourth place and maintained that spot for most of the final laps.

Brockville Speedway was up next on Saturday night for their final regular season race of the season.  With two wins at Brockville already this season, Billings would be looking for another as he tries to move back into the all important Brockville Speedway Top Five.  After an uneventful fourth place finish in his heat race, Matt returned to the pit area for some adjustments before returning to the track for the 30 lap main event.  Matt lined up on the outside of row five to start the race and just 10 laps later he had made his way into the top five.  As the final laps counted down, Billings moved up even more, and crossed the finish line with a solid third place result and placing him into the top five overall after the final points had been calculated.  Billings is the only driver from the top five in points in 2011 to return to the top five in 2012.

“We have had a good season, but there is always room for improvement”, says Billings.  “We set our goals at the starting of the season wanting to win the championship here, and we came up a little short.  I really have to thank the crew for all their work, and all the sponsors and race fans that have supported is, it really means a lot”.

The final race on the busy Labor Day Weekend schedule was at Cornwall Speedway for their 125 lap Mr. DIRTcar Series/Canadian Nationals Series event.  The unique format would see 75 laps, followed by a 10 minute break as teams were able to work on their car on the track in front of the grandstands.  Billings started the night well, setting the fastest time in his time trial group, earning a front row starting spot for his heat race.  Billings would go on to win his heat, earning a spot in the redraw for a top 12 starting spot.  Prior to the main event, Billings would draw for his starting position, and would also be part of the perfect attendance draw for the three race Canadian Nationals Series.  As luck would have it, Billings drew starting spot number one, and also won a set of Hoosier tires in the Canadian Nationals draw.  After the initial restart, Matt got in line in second place, but after ten laps he made a pass for the lead and held the top spot through lap 25.  By the time the planned caution came out at lap 75, Billings had began to struggle, and had slid back to eighth place.  After making some changes, Billings resumed the race, but the car continued to struggle and he would finish with a disappointing 10th place run.

The next race on the schedule for Billings will be this coming Friday night at Autodrome Granby for the next round of the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series.  From there, Billings will race at Mohawk Raceway on Saturday, September 15th, Brighton Speedway and Brighton Speedway on September 22nd before switching gears to focus on their Super DIRT Week plans.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Matt Billings Looking to Capture Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Modified Series Championship at Mohawk Raceway on Thursday Night


This weekend is championship weekend at all local tracks, and Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team would love nothing more to lay claim to the 2012 Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Modified Championship.  They will enter Thursday night’s showdown tied for the lead in series points.  They will also be in contention for the overall track championship, and although their 27 point deficit seems overwhelming, Billings will be looking to repeat his performance from the last 50 lap Frenchie’s Series race on July 6th, and let the points fall where they may.  He will also be in action at Brockville Speedway on Saturday and Cornwall Speedway on Sunday for their 125 lap Canadian Nationals Series/Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event.

Billings started his qualifying heat race from third place on Friday night, and moved to the front of the pack, taking the win in the 10 lap race.  He started the 25 lap main event from fourth place, and quickly moved to second through the opening 10 laps.  Over the next few laps, Billings had slipped to fifth, but he battled back over the remaining distance and crossed the finish line with a third place result.

“It was a good run, but we need to be a little better.  Hopefully we can come back next week for the 50 lapper and get another win”, says Billings.  “We are running consistent, but we still want to get better”.

Brockville Speedway was up next on Saturday night. After a second place finish in the preliminary qualifying heat, Billings reported back to the pit area to make some adjustment to the car before the 30 lap main event.  Starting from 12th place, Matt moved into the top ten early and was up to seventh as the race approached halfway.  He finished the race with a seventh place result.

This coming weekend will be a big weekend for Billings.  With a great shot at the Frenchie’s championship, and in contention for the overall track title, Thursday night’s event at Mohawk Raceway will certainly be exciting.  On Saturday night, he will return to Brockville Speedway.  Although the BOS championship is out of reach, Billings will be looking for a strong run to move into the BOS Five Star Program for 2012.  He currently is only eight points out of fifth.  Sunday night at Cornwall Speedway is the final race in the Canadian Nationals Series and will also be a Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series race.  They will battle for 125 laps.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Matt Billings Returns to Brockville Speedway Victory Lane on Saturday Night; Score Top Ten Finishes at Mohawk Raceway and Cornwall


For Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team, the month of August and the last half of July had been a struggle.  Although they battled each night and were in the top ten more times then not, they struggled to find the success that they had earlier in the season.  After some long nights in the shop, Billings was able to return to form this past Saturday night at Brockville Speedway picking up his third win of 2012.  He also posted top tens at Mohawk Raceway on Friday nights and Cornwall Speedway on Sunday in their 100 lap Canadian Nationals Series race.

After a second place finish in his qualifying heat race at Mohawk Raceway on Friday night, Billings was looking for a solid finish in the 25 lap main event.  He started the race from seventh place and struggled to find any grip on the track.  He maintained a top ten position throughout the race, finishing with a disappointing ninth place run.

“It is tough going out there, it was hard to find any forward bite at all”, says Billings after the race.  “Hopefully we can run better over the final couple weeks”.

On Saturday night at Brockville Matt picked up another second place finish in his preliminary qualifying event.  After making some adjustment to the car, he was ready for the 30 lap feature.  He rolled off the starting grid from fifth place and patiently moved forward.  By lap ten he was up to third, and then made his way to second before the race reached the halfway mark.  On lap 16 Billings made the pass for the lead, and pulled away over the final few laps to score win number two of the season at Brockville and third overall.

“The car worked great tonight, it was better then it had been the last few weeks here”, says Billings from Victory Lane.  “We are excited about the win, and even more excited that we finally got the car to turn the way we wanted it to.  Hopefully we can build on this going into the final couple weeks and into the bigger races coming up”.

Billings traveled to Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday for the second round of the Canadian Nationals Series with a 100 lap main event on the schedule.  He topped the charts in his qualifying group and started his heat race from the front row.  He finished in second, making the redraw for a top 12 starting spot.  After drawing the ninth spot, Billings lined up on the inside of row five for the feature race.  The first half of the race was a struggle, falling outside the top ten, but he rebounded in the second half to score an eighth place finish.

This coming week, Matt will be back in action at Mohawk Raceway on Friday night, and then on to Brockville Speedway on Saturday night.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Thursday, 16 August 2012

Matt Billings Looking for More as 2012 Regular Season Winds Down


For many race teams, a season like Matt Billings has had would be outstanding.  A glance at their results from 2012 with top ten finishes virtually every week is something that most racers strive for.  Billings is looking for more though, and is unsatisfied with running just in the top ten.  He wants to be better then that, and that determination to be the best will eventually pay off.

This past week was relatively quiet for Billings, with just Brockville Speedway on Saturday night filling the team’s agenda.  Mohawk Raceway, the team’s usual Friday night track had the weekend off for their local fair.  It was a tough start to the night for Billings after a frustrating qualifying heat.  Once he arrived back into the pit area, the team made some changes to the car, looking for more speed out of the car for the 30 lap feature.  He started the race from deep in the field, rolling off the starting grid from the 17th position.  The frustrations continued in the feature, as another car spun on lap six, collecting Billings.  He was able to continue with minimal damage.  He restarted the race from the tail of the field once again, and battled back, ending the night with a respectable eighth place finish.

“It was a tough night for us here.  Actually its been a tough few weeks”, says Billings.  “Hopefully we can finish out the year strong here at Brockville and at Mohawk and build some momentum going into the bigger races in the fall”.

This coming week, Billings will return to Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night, then off to Brockville Speedway on Saturday.  He will also make a rare appearance at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday night for the second round of the Canadian Nationals Series with a 100 lap main event.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Matt Billings Gets Top Five Finish at Mohawk Raceway; Mechanical Issues Plagued the Team Early at Brockville but Rebounded for a Top Ten


With the final full month of the 2012 regular racing season now here, Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team were looking for a good weekend.  They were off to Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night for their a regular night of racing, and then on to Brockville Speedway on Saturday for a double lap, double purse and double points event.  If all went well, the team also hoped to make it to Cornwall on Sunday night for a 100 lap Canadian National Series event.

After a third place finish in his preliminary qualifying heat race, Billings lined up for the 25 lap main event at Mohawk Raceway from seventh place.  By the time the first caution came out on lap eight, Billings was inside the top five in fourth.  He would continue inside the top five for most of the race, and ended the night in fifth.  An extensive tech inspection took place after the race, and Billings cleared through without any issues, but they had some work to do before getting to Brockville on Saturday night, as they had to put their motor back together, and get the car ready for the BOS.

With double points on the line at Brockville, Billings was looking forward to a good night at the track.  Unfortunately, after just a few laps on the track during hot laps, problems developed that would leave the team scrambling for the rest of the night.  A broken rear end was the issue, and the Billings Motorsports team worked hard getting it replaced.  They missed their qualifying heat race, and they missed the second round of hot laps, but were ready to hit the track for the 60 lap feature.  He would have to start from the rear of the field, but after avoiding a lap one wreck, he found himself inside the top ten for the restart.  He remained inside the top ten all race, and finished with an eighth place result.

“It was a long night here at the BOS.  We broke the rear end in hot laps, and all night long we were working to get it replaced so we could make it back for the feature”, says Billings.  “I really have to thank everyone that helped us with the car trying to get the rear end replaced so we could make the feature”.

With the extra work on the motor on Saturday after Friday night’s tech, and a long night at the track on Saturday getting ready for the feature, the team decided not to race at Cornwall on Sunday.  Their decision to stay home was a good one, as the 100 lap race ended up being postponed due to rain.

This coming week, Billings will have a rare Friday night off as Mohawk International Raceway is closed for the week.  He will be back at Brockville Speedway on Saturday night.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Monday, 30 July 2012

Matt Billings Gets Top Tens at Mohawk Raceway and Cornwall Speedway; Brockville Speedway Struggles Continue With Second DNF of 2012


It was a busy weekend for Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team, with the usual events at Mohawk Raceway on Friday night and Brockville Speedway on Saturday night as well as a rare appearance at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday night.

At Mohawk International Raceway on Friday, Billings struggled in his qualifying heat race, finishing in fifth place.  He made some adjustments to the car before the night’s 25 lap feature.  Starting from 15th, Matt had a long way to go to get to the front, but was confident that the changes they made to the car would be just what the needed.  The first caution of the race came on lap 17 and he was up to eighth, and continued to march toward to the front when the race resumed.  He had made it inside the top five for a few laps, but the car pushed up the track with a few laps remaining, costing him a couple spots at the end.  He crossed the finish line in seventh place.

“It wasn’t the finish we were looking for.  I was battling with the 01 and just drove it in the corner a little to hard trying to make it stick and the car pushed up the track”, says Billings.  “Its nice to get the top tens, but we really need to be better if we are going to contend for the championship over the final month of the season”.

Brockville Speedway was up next for Billings, and he was looking for a good run in front of the hometown crowd.  Just like the previous night, the preliminary qualifying was a bit of a struggle as Billing finished in fourth place.  He started the 30 lap feature from outside of the sixth row in the 12th position and began to move forward patiently.  With 15 laps in and the race at the halfway distance, Matt was running in eighth place.  He continued to move forward until getting spun out entering turn one on lap 20.  Trying to salvage a respectable finish, Billings returned to the track before a mechanical issue sidelined him for good with five laps remaining.

On Sunday night, Billings decided to take the car to Cornwall Speedway.  The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars were making their inaugural appearance at the track, and Billings wanted to see that event, so they took the car to get a few laps in as well.  Matt rebounded to finish fourth in his heat race after getting spun out on lap five.  He started the 30 lap feature from 12th place, and after a slow start, he came on strong in the second half of the race to finish with in sixth place.

This coming week, Billings will be back at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night, Brockville Speedway on Saturday night for a double laps, double purse, double points event.  Billings hopes to return to Cornwall again this weekend for their 100 lap Canadian Nationals Series race.  Billings finished seventh in the opening round of the series back in May, and will be looking to improve on that during round two.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Matt Billings Grabs Top Ten Finishes at Mohawk Raceway and Brockville


The 2012 season has been a strong year for Matt Billings and his Brockville, Ontario based Billings Motorsports team.  They have been consistent all season long, running in the top ten almost every night, and usually inside the top five.  They are in the top five in track points at both Mohawk International Raceway and Brockville Speedway, are a contender for the championships at both tracks.  They were back in action again this week at MIR and the BOS looking to climb even higher in the standings, and get back to victory lane.

The first race on the weekend schedule was the usual Friday night events at Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, New York.  In his 10 lap qualifying heat race, Matt started from fourth place and finished with a strong second place run.  In the 25 lap main event, the entire race went caution free as Billings moved from his seventh place starting spot up to sixth place at the finish.

“It was tough with no cautions, as the field got spread out, and it we pretty much just held our own”, says Billings after the race.  “It wasn’t a bad finish, but would have liked to have been in the top five at least”.

The action moved backed to Billings’ hometown track on Saturday night.  He came from the rear of the field to finish third in his preliminary qualifier, and started the night’s 30 lap main event from outside of row six in the 12th position.  Billings avoided disaster on an opening lap wreck, and avoided another crash on lap ten.  The second half of the race was a struggle, and he ended the night with a disappointing eighth place finish.

This coming week, Matt will be back at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night, and on to Brockville Speedway on Saturday night.  Billings is in the top five at both tracks, with one win at each.  He will be looking for another this weekend. 

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Matt Billings Gets Fourth Consecutive Top Five Finish With a Fifth at Mohawk Raceway and Second at Brockville Speedway This Weekend


After picking up his second win of 2012 the previous week in a 50 lap Frenchie’s Series race at Mohawk Raceway, Matt Billings continues to roll, posting his fourth consecutive top five finish.  Billings has had a good season so far and is currently fourth in points at Brockville Speedway, tied for second at Mohawk Raceway, and currently is tied for the lead in the Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Modified Series at Mohawk Raceway after two of three events.

At Mohawk Raceway on Friday night, Billings struggled early in his qualifying heat.  He started sixth, and was unable to finish inside the top five.  He started 14th in the 25 lap main event, and consistently worked his way forward.  When the race reached the halfway point at lap 13, Billings had advanced his position to seventh, and continued to move up in the second half.  At the checkered flag, Matt crossed the line with a fifth place finish.

“It wasn’t a bad run for us, considering we started a long way back”, says Billings after the race.  “It was a good points night for us, so we will take it and move on”.

Brockville Speedway was up next on the weekend schedule for the Billings Motorsports team.  He won his qualifying heat race with ease, and started the 30 lap main event from fifth place.  After narrowly avoiding disaster on lap one, Billings was able to grab the top spot on the ensuing restart to lead the first lap.  Matt held the top spot until lap 14 after a great battle for the lead, and would end the night with a solid second place finish.  In between the heat races and the feature, Billings and his fellow competitors participated in the family autograph session, with all the cars coming onto the track.  This has become a popular event at many tracks, and Brockville is no exception. 

This coming week, Matt will be back at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night, and then back to Brockville Speedway on Saturday night. 

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                       
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Monday, 9 July 2012

Matt Billings Gets First Career Mohawk International Raceway Victory in 50 Lap Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Series Race; Gets Fourth at the BOS


The month of June was a bit of a struggle for Matt Billings, and he was looking for better results as he entered the first weekend of racing in July.  Matt was back in action at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night for a 50 lap Frenchie’s “Chevy Runs Deep” Series race, and then back to the BOS on Saturday night.

At Mohawk Raceway, Billings began the night with a win in his qualifying heat race after starting third.  In the 50 lap main event, Matt started third once again, and held that spot throughout the first 18 laps.  When the race leader had a flat tire, Billings inherited the second spot, and with the leader in sight, he battled for the next 15 laps patiently waiting to make a move for the top spot.  With 15 laps remaining Billings found the bite that he was looking for at the bottom of the track in turn 4 to take the lead.  He held the top spot for the remaining laps to pick up his first career win at Mohawk International Raceway and second overall in the 2012 season.

“We have had some good runs here at MIR, but have never been able to win before tonight”, says Billings after the race.  “It feels good to get a win here in a 50 lap Frenchie’s Series race.  I have to thank the crew, and all of our sponsors for everything they do for us”.

The next stop on the weekend was Brockville Speedway on Saturday night.  After a last lap flat tire last week while going for the win, Billings was looking for a solid finish to get back into the BOS Five Star top five in track points.  Matt finished his qualifying heat in third place, and came back into the pits to the attention of his crew to make some adjustments before the 30 lap feature.  Billings started in sixth and moved up to fourth early and held that spot through halfway.  The first caution of the race slowed the field on lap 19, and Billings was now up to third place.  Billings continued to run strong in third through a series of late race cautions, and fell to fourth on the final lap.

“It was a good points run for us, but I would have liked to be a little higher”, says Billings.  “After last week, we needed a good finish to get back in the top five in points”.

This coming week, Billings will be back at Mohawk Raceway on Friday night, and Brockville Speedway on Saturday night looking to build on the momentum from this past week.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Matt Billings Continues Consistency With Top Ten Finishes at Mohawk Raceway and Brockville Speedway


With top ten finishes in virtually every race this season since the season began at his home tracks, Matt Billings was looking to continue his consistent season, and get back to victory lane.  Billings was at Mohawk International Raceway on Thursday night for the 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series race, and returned to Brockville Speedway on Saturday night in front of the hometown crowd.

At Mohawk Raceway, Billings began the night with a fourth place finish in his qualifying heat race.  Although it locked him into the 75 lap main event, he finished one spot out of a redraw position for one of the top 12 starting spots.  Billings would start the DIRTcar Series race from 15th place, and patiently moved forward through the early stages of the race.  As the race approached halfway, Billings was beginning his climb up the leaderboard, in the eighth position, and looking strong.  Over the next few laps, Billings would move up to as high as sixth, but a lap 47 restart changed the tone of the race after getting collected in a multi car crash.  The race was stopped for several minutes, giving the Billings crew time to at least make the car drivable, and he returned to the track on the lead lap but at the rear of the depleted field.  Billings raced his way back up to sixth place at the finish.

“The car was good before we got in that wreck.  I think we would have had a top five car for sure”, says Billings after the race.  “We battled back though, and I really have to thank the crew for their hard work getting us back out there on the lead lap, and salvages a good finish out of it”.

The next stop on the weekend schedule was the usual Saturday night visit to Brockville Ontario Speedway.  After finishing third in his qualifying heat race, Billings and his team made some adjustments on the car getting it dialed in for the 30 lap main event.  Starting from sixth, Billings was hoping to get up front quickly and challenge for the lead.  At the drop of the green, Billings took over the fifth position, and was up to fourth before they completed lap two.  The unusually dry and slick track conditions played havoc with many teams, but Billings was able to maintain that fourth position through 10 laps.  On lap 12, as the handling started to go away, the car drifted over the banking, losing several positions, but he was able to get back on the track without causing a yellow, saving what could have been a restart from the rear of the field.  Matt continued inside the top ten, and salvaged a ninth place finish at the checkered flag.

Billings will be back to the regular routine this weekend with Mohawk Raceway back to their regular Friday night and Brockville Speedway on Saturday evening.  

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Matt Billings Continues Season of Consistency With Strong Runs at Mohawk Raceway and Brockville Speedway


Although Matt Billings would like to have a few more wins to his name this season, he has put together a season of consistent finishes at both of his regular weekly tracks, finishing in the top ten virtually every night at the track in a very competitive field of cars at Brockville Speedway and Mohawk Raceway.

The first stop on the team’s weekend schedule was on Friday night at Mohawk International Raceway.  Billings began the night with a second place finish in his qualifying heat race, charging through the field from his sixth place starting spot.  In the 25 lap main event, Billings started from 15th place and moved forward at the drop of the green.  The entire 25 lap distance went without incident, and Billings crossed the finish line with a solid eighth place finish.

“The car was pretty solid tonight, but we could have used a caution or two to help keep the field bunched together a little”, explains Billings.  “Unless your car is perfect, it gets hard to gain positions as everyone kind of gets spread out, but we will take it and move on”.

Brockville Speedway was up next for the Billings Motorsports team, and Matt was looking forward to having another good night at his hometown track.  In the preliminary qualifying heat, Billings started from fifth and moved up to second before the checkered flag.  In the 30 lap main event, Matt started on the outside of row seven in the 14th starting spot.  It didn’t take Billings long to move forward, and by lap ten he was up to seventh place.  As the race approached halfway, Billings was now inside the top five, and looking to move up even further.  At the finish, Billings crossed the line with a solid fourth place fun.

“We were just off a little bit on our setup and that made all the difference”, said Billings after the race”.  “The car was good, but not quite good enough to get up there with the leaders”. 

This coming weekend, Billings will be back at Mohawk International Raceway for a rare Thursday night event, as they host the next round of the 358 Modified Mr. DIRTcar Series.  On Saturday night, Matt will be back in action at Brockville Speedway where he currently sits third in points, just 29 points back of first place.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for their support for the upcoming season.  Billings Automotive, Pastime Motors, Stealth Racewear, Snap On Tools, Integra Shocks, Enders Racing Engines, Finish Line Web Design and Babe Design are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support as we approach the 2012 season.
                                                           
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.