MATT BILLINGS

Billings Reflects on Exciting Rookie Season in DIRTcar 358 Modified Racing
Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design
November 19, 201 0

Just one year ago, as the 2009-racing season ended, Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team pondered their future in the sport. They could have stayed in the Sportsman division as they already were amongst the top teams in the class, or they also had the opportunity to advance to the DIRTcar 358 Modified ranks, a division that showcases some of the elite drivers that DIRTcar racing has to offer. Once the decision had been made to move up, it was full speed ahead for the 17-year-old Brockville, Ontario racer.

For Billings, the season got underway early, with trips to North Carolina to take part in the Race 101 scholarship program. Billings attended the motorsports generated class, and learned about racing from the technical aspect, as well as the other side of the sports in public relations, marketing, and communications. The experience he gained from the Race 101 program is immeasurable, and prepared the young racer for his first season in the 358 Modified division.

The first race for Matt Billings in Small Block Modified racing came at Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, New York on April 23^rd. Not knowing what to expect in his first season, let alone the first race, Billings impressed a lot of people, battling to a second place finish amongst his 358 Modified competitors. Billings ended the month just one week later with another top five finish.

The month of May was a busy one for Billings, racing weekly at Can Am, and now Brockville and Cornwall Speedway both opened up during the middle of the month. Billings started the month off with his first feature win, in just his third start, taking home the checkered flag at Can Am. A seventh place finish at Brockville the following night opened the season at the Billings Motorsports hometown speedway, but a short trip up the 401 the next night set the stage for yet another victory for the team in the first of two 25 lap features on opening night. The second feature was a top ten finish as well. Billings ended the month with a pair of fourth place finishes at Can Am and Brockville respectively.

The emotions of this sports can often be compared to riding a roller coaster, sometimes you feel like you are on top of the world, and the next moment you are sent back down to the bottom of the tracks, and that describes the month of June for the Billings team. While he finished all seven of his starts in the top ten, including another win at Can Am, and also being nominated for Sportsperson of the year for the City of Brockville, the team also faced some adversity during the month, dealing with some technical issues that set the team back.

July was a difficult month for the team as they pushed on through the bad luck and tough circumstances that faced them. A pair of second place finishes at Brockville highlighted the month. Behind the scenes, the Billings Motorsports team was hard at work as they looked to a different direction for their engine program, and by months end, had a brand new Enders Racing Engine being built.

Like all great race teams, the Billings team bounced back, and once the new Enders Racing Engine was installed in the Billings Automotive, Stealth Racewear, Race 101, Turn One High Performance Steering Systems, Pastime Motors, Babe Design, Finish Line Web Design, Carquest sponsored Bicknell car, the success was almost instantaneous, as Billings drove to victory at Can Am in a dominating performance on August 20^th in a SUNY Canton Series 358 Modified race.

The final points weekend of the season at all DIRTcar tracks is Labor Day weekend in September, and Billings closed out the regular season at Can Am with yet another win. The following night, Billings had a top five at Brockville, and began to prepare for the upcoming events on the schedule with the DIRTcar 358 Modified series. First up was to Cornwall Speedway for a 100-lap race, but bad luck kept Billings from finishing the event. The following weekend, the team traveled to Quebec for races at both Autodrome Granby and Autodrome Drummond. Billings learned quickly at both tracks and finished with 13^th place finishes at both venues. The month ended with a fourth place finish at Brighton Speedway during their annual Applefest weekend.

For the next two weeks Billings and his team changed their focus to Super DIRT Week. Just one year ago, Billings left Syracuse as champion of the Sportsman division during the annual DIRT Week spectacular, and they looked to apply that experience to their first appearance in a 358 Modified. Racing amongst the top DIRTcar drivers on the circuit, some that were turning laps at Syracuse long before Billings had even been born didn’t faze the talented rookie. Billings finished the race in 10^th place with the assistance of Big Block Modified driver Billy Dunn and his crew as they handled the mandatory pit stop, a rarity in DIRTcar 358 Modified racing. The month ended back at Billings’ home track, Brockville Ontario Speedway for the DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals.

The season ended at Brockville for Billings Motorsports, but Matt still had some unfinished business to do with the Race 101 program. Part of the program involved on track action in a Race 101 prepared pavement Late Model, and Billings had his turn in mid November at the famous Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina. Billings ran close to 100 laps at the track, turning some very competitive lap times.

“The pavement deal is awesome”, says Billings. “I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. We had some fast times. The whole Race 101 experience has been phenomenal, and I encourage everyone to apply for next years program. The chassis setups, shock dyno, and all of the technical stuff that they go through with us is just a great experience. It has been awesome working with Tony Blanchard,

The 2010 Race 101 Scholarship program will conclude in January as Billings and his class will graduate. One member of this year’s class will be selected to drive a Race 101 prepared pavement Late Model in select events in 2011.

In the meantime, Billings Motorsports would like to wish everyone a very happy Holiday Season and we can’t wait to go racing in 2011.

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

ARCHIVES

Billings Reflects on Exciting Rookie Season in DIRTcar 358 Modified Racing - November 19, 2010

Billings Ends Fantastic Rookie Season with DIRTcar Series Races at the BOS - October 19, 2010

Billings Has Impressive Top Ten Finish in Salute to the Troops 150 at Syracuse - October 13, 2010

Billings Teams up With DIRTcar Modified Billy Dunn for Syracuse Run - September 28,2010

Billings Travels to Quebec For Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Events - September 14,2010

Billings Has Solid Weekend With Win at Can Am; Top Five at Brockville- September 7,2010

Billings Gets Fifth in 100 Lap Canadian Super Challenge Series Race at BOS - August 31,2010

Billings Back in Victory Lane After SUNY Canton Series Win at Can Am - August 24, 2010

Flat Tire Ends Matt Billings Chance at Win at Brockville Ontario Speedway - August 17, 2010