This message was edited on
April 10, 2008 at
11:18:00 AM by Bill W
Tornado Alley – Confident Cornhusker!
(Bill W) April 10, 2008 – A feeling of confidence surrounded Billy Alley after last weekend. It was a feeling he hadn't felt in some time. Racing at your home track helps, and a strong showing at Eagle Raceway last Sunday sealed the deal. Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was taking the 410 out for its maiden voyage against the World of Outlaws in Pevely, Missouri on Saturday. Although the night ended after getting into another competitor and tipping over, each time the car hit the track it got faster.
Eagle's Icebreaker Challenge was just that, an icebreaker. A cold, blustery breeze greeted competitors and fans alike. After an impressive heat race run despite typical daytime track conditions, Billy drew a spot inside row three for the main event. "I was in the preferred line starting inside of Brian Brown," he says. "The line worked to my advantage, and I was able to hold the spot. We were fourth by turn one."
World of Outlaws regular, Terry McCarl, made the long journey from Pevely just like Billy, and he started on the pole of the feature and took off. "McCarl got way out there," says Billy. "I was able to get by one guy who got out of the rubber, and got around on the high side of the other. When I got into second, McCarl had a straightaway on me, but by the caution (seven laps to go), I was within a car length."
Bill wishes the stoppage hadn't occurred, and settled for second behind McCarl and in front of Brown. "If that caution hadn't of come out, I would have had a lot better shot at him," he laments. "We were getting in lapped traffic. I don't know if I could have passed him, but he looked like he may have been getting tight. That caution came out and gave him a clean race track, and it's tough to beat him in open air."
The race completed a weekend that saw great strides for the new SA Racing team and especially its driver. "I felt a little bit of cockiness and confidence coming back," says the Lincoln, Nebraska native. "You can't fake intensity, cockiness or confidence…you have to feel it. It was a feeling I hadn't had in a long time. My race car is starting to sing to me a little bit. It was the kind of run we needed, and everyone was excited. We felt good. There was a nice field there, and Terry McCarl and Brian Brown could go anywhere in the country and win a 360 race."
After years of sitting in the stands at Eagle Raceway as a youth, Billy knows the persistence needed for the fans to stick around on Sunday. "I want to thank the folks at Eagle, and especially the fans who came out," he says. "It wasn't the ideal day to be watching a race by any means, but there they were!"
Pevely
With an opportunity to race a few miles from home with his 360, the SA Racing team elected to get the 410 in gear about 7 ½ hours from home against the World of Outlaws. I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri is a 1/3 mile high-banked oval that can be tricky to get around. Throw in the fact that it was the team's first time out with a 410, and you can expect some growing pains.
Despite all the obstacles, the team persevered and Billy was happy with the results. "Every time we went on the track and made changes, the car adapted to it," he says. "We were running against the best in the country, so to run a new car as well as we did was good. I'd really like to thank Barry Jackson from JEI chassis. I've been on the phone with him every week, and he's given us some great advice. He takes pride in making sure this car is fast."
After registering the 18th quick time of the night on a slick track, Billy started outside row three of his heat. Adjustments by Bob "Buns" Richardson and the rest of the team netted a solid heat race finish (fifth) that put them outside row nine for the feature event. Rolling around the bottom in good fashion, Billy came upon WoO regular Chad Hillier, whose car was sideways in turn four. Unable to avoid contact, Billy tipped over. "I just wanted to get some laps there, and go 40 laps," he says. "We got it too tight for the feature; I think towards the end, we would have been good. We could have moved up through there a little bit. Our flip got the wings and the front axle. It didn't event bend the radius rods, so no major damage."
Despite the spill, Billy felt good about the team's first night out in the 410. "The good thing about Pevely was, when we left, everyone was up," he says. "I hadn't felt like that in a 410 in a long time. Usually when you've gotten upside down, it's a long drive home and you're almost in tears. It felt good to get around the track the way we did."
Unfortunately, the team's plans of running two nights at Nebraska Raceway Park this weekend were postponed to April 18. The team will turn their focus towards that night, as well as their quest for another Knoxville track championship, beginning April 19.
Website
Be sure to visit the Kid's Corner at the website. Your wing design could be used on the car!
To learn more about Billy Alley and SA Racing, visit www.BillyAlley.com!
T-shirts
SA Racing apparel can be viewed at www.BillyAlley.com and purchased at the track! Also visit www.RacingThreads.com for apparel on clearance!
Down the Alley
Chad in Sioux Falls asks: What do you remember about your first win? (Eagle Raceway – September 1, 2001)
Billy answers: I remember that race like it was yesterday. It wasn't like Doug Wolfgang. I read that he can't remember winning the 1977 Nationals. I remember being out there racing and it was like I woke up from the zone I was in. I remember passing for the lead in turn two and thinking to myself, 'I'm gonna win this race!' That's the feeling I'm looking to get back every time I'm out on the track. I was out their singing a song and not thinking about anything else. I wasn't thinking period. That's what you want.
Got a question for Billy? Send it to us at [email protected], and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for Billy" in your subject line.
Alley's Anecdotes
Billy has an impressive record at Nebraska Raceway Park. In seven feature starts there, he has three wins and six top fives. He's never finished outside of the top ten. He won the 2002 Lawrence Ideus Memorial, besting Jake Peters, Jason Danley, Mike Boston and Bruce Divis at NRP.
Tornado Alley
"Tornado Alley" is an up close look at the past, present and future of 2006 Knoxville Raceway track champion, Billy Alley. To receive "Tornado Alley", send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Alley" in the subject line.
Billy and SA Racing would like to thank Delta Oil, Sterling Physical Therapy, PC., Bolz Farms, Aeroquip, Awesome Racewear, The Buckles Brothers, Buss Excavating, JEI Chassis, McLain Motorsports, Schmit Automotive, Wesmar Racing Engines, Red Devil, Brakes, Pro Shocks, Fuel Safe, C&R Radiator, Vortex Wings, Sander Engineering, K&N Filters , Harris Decals, Toad Valley Golf Course, Speedway Motors, Featherlite Inc., Autometer, D'Agostiono Racing, Monarch's Restaurant, Volvo, Hoosier Tires.
Billy works inside of Jake Peters at Eagle Raceway (Doug Johnson Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me!
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com
|
