Mixed Results For Matt Billings in DIRTcar 358 Modified Seri

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Mixed Results For Matt Billings in DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Races This Weekend
Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design
August 3, 2011

It was a weekend of mixed results for Matt Billings and the Billings Motorsports team. With Brockville having the night off for their regular weekly classes, the weekend didn’t get started until Sunday as Billings made a rare start at Cornwall Motor Speedway for the next round of the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified series. From there, the same series traveled through the night to Merrittville Speedway for a holiday Monday event which featured the remaining 75 laps of their series race held back in May that was postponed due to rain.

The night started out well for Billings as he posted the fastest time in practice in his group. Qualifying was a different story as Billings struggled, which resulted in a seventh place starting spot in his eight lap heat race. With only the top four cars qualifying through the heat race, Billings knew he had a lot of work ahead of him to make it into the feature. He was unable to make it in through the qualifying race, and was relegated to the last chance consolation race to make the show. This time, Billings had his car working much better and advanced to fourth taking the final starting spot for the 100 lap feature. Starting 28th out of the 30 car field, Billings had to use patience in the first half of the race working through traffic and moving his way forward. By lap 50, Billings began to move forward, now showing in the 18th position. Progress was even better in the second half of the race as he cracked the top 15 by lap 70 and was soon looking at the top ten. Before the final restart, Billings had moved into eighth place, but slid back to 11th as the checkered flag was displayed.

“We had a pretty good run, it is just really difficult with the track position that we had”, says Billings. “We struggled in our time trial session, and again in our heat race and got the last spot in the consi. I think we made it up to 7th or 8th place near the end of the feature but we slid back to 11th at the end”.

After packing up at Cornwall on Sunday night, the team made the long haul to Thorold, Ontario and the Merrittville Speedway. They arrived just before dawn, and after a few hour sleep, they were ready for the remaining 75 laps of the DIRTcar 358 series race that was cut short due to rain back in May and was rescheduled for Monday along with a full Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series race that was originally scheduled. Billings restarted the race from the back of the pack, and progress was slow, but steady as he worked his way up. With ten laps remaining, Billings was riding in the 15th position, when a mechanical failure ended his run early. Despite the disappointing finish on Monday, Billings currently sits 9th place in Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series points. The series will resume back at Cornwall Speedway on Sunday, September 4th.

This coming weekend Billings will be at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night and then will return to Brockville Speedway on Saturday night.

Matt Billings is a proud supporter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, taking part in a fundraiser earlier this year. He will also take part in a fundraiser later in the year for the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. For more information on the Heart and Stroke Foundation, please visit www.heartandstroke.ca or for the Alzheimer’s Society, please visit www.alzheimer.ca.

Billings Motorsports would like to thank all of their sponsors for their continued support. Billings Automotive, Carquest, Stealth Racewear, Pastime Motors, Hansler Smith Limited, Enders Racing Engines, Brockville Physiotherapy, Babe Design, Finish Line Web Design, and Enders Racing are an integral part of the team’s success, and we thank you all for your support this season.

Stop by the Billings Motorsports trailer at the track and pick up your Billings Motorsports t-shirts and hoodies. T-shirts are being sold for $20 and hoodies are on sale for $35.

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