Matt Billings Update

Courtesy Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design (Rick Young Photo)

For anyone that knows Matt Billings, it was just a matter of time before he posted his first win in the 358 Modified division.  The Brockville, Ontario racer won early and often in Go Karts, won in his first year in a Sportsman and after moving up to the competitive 358 Modified division, Billings was already knocking on the door for his first career win with a 2nd place finish on opening night at Can Am Motorsports Park.

When the Billings team arrived at Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park on Friday evening, they were feeling confident.  After some discussion early in the week on how to build on their early season success, and get up to that next level, Billings used the outside of the track and demonstrated that his Small Block Modified can compete against his more powerful Big Block counterparts.

When the green flag dropped Billings drove his Billings Automotive, Stealth Racewear, Race 101, Turn One High Performance Steering Systems, Pastime Motors, Babe Design, Finish Line Web Design, Carquest and Engine Research sponsored Bicknell car to the front, passing cars at ease, including opening night Big Block winner Rob Bellinger with a heroic last lap pass.  While Billings crossed the finish line in 3rd place, he was easily the highest finishing Small Block racer, sending Billings and team to Victory Lane for their efforts, in just his third start.

“This is awesome”, says an excited Billings after the race.  “We worked hard over the week to figure out what we need to do get better here at Can Am, and now we have a win to show for it.  I love coming here, this is one of my favorite tracks to race at”.

On Saturday night, the Billings team loaded up their 2009 Bicknell car and headed just a few minutes up the highway to the Brockville Ontario Speedway.  It was opening night at the BOS, and it was also Matt’s 17th Birthday.  Tough track conditions made the track tough to navigate, but Billings brought the car home with a solid top10 finish, crossing the line in 7th place.

“The track was really rough tonight, it was hard to make up any ground.  It was a good night overall, and now we will start thinking about tomorrow’s race at Cornwall”, says Billings after the 30 lap feature.

On Sunday, the Billings team worked on their car, going over the car, after the beating it took on the rough racetrack on the previous night.  While Matt has had only two previous starts at Cornwall in the past, both with the Sportsman division and both ending with disappointing results, Matt remained confident during his first visit with the 358 Modified.

In the first feature, Billings started from the 4th position and quickly used the outside to take the lead.  Billings held the lead through lap 9, when he was passed while fighting lapped traffic.  Billings inched closer and closer to the leader, trying to regain his position, and on the final corner of the final lap, Billings ducked low, and made a dramatic pass for the win.

“What a race.  I had to go low there early in the race, and we lost the lead, but we got it back at the end.   I really have to thank everyone for helping.  We have some great sponsors, and we have a great team.  Thank you to everyone who comes to the track and supports us”, says Billings.

When not at the track, or working on his racecar, Billings is attending online webinars for the Race 101 program that he is enrolled in.  Billings will head to North Carolina in July, and make his first attempt ever on pavement, running some practice laps at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Next weekend, Billings will head back to Can Am on Friday night, Brockville on Saturday, and Merrittville Speedway on Monday for the first race on the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series schedule. For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website, www.mattbillings74.com.