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.

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.

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 20^th 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 30^th place finish.

Friday was time trial day for the 358 Modifieds at the Fairgrounds.  Billings posted the 30^th 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 15^th in his heat, and advanced to 10^th place, securing a starting spot in the Gander Mountain 150 on Saturday.

Billings started the main event from the 20^th starting position and patiently moved forward in the early stages of the race.  After advancing to 16^th 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 25^th 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 18^th 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.

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.

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 18^th 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 2^nd to 7^th.  The 2012 season will conclude at Brockville on October 13^th and 14^th 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.

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 22^nd 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.

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 10^th 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 15^th, Brighton Speedway and Brighton Speedway on September 22^nd 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.