Billings Gets Fifth in 100 Lap Canadian Super Challenge Series Race at BOS
Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design
August 31, 2010
A busy weekend of racing was on tap for Matt Billings and his team this past weekend. First up was a regular night of racing at Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park, followed by a special 100-lap Canadian Super Challenge Series event at the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday night. Then it was the final night of regular track points at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday.
Fresh of a win just one week earlier at Can Am, Billings was back in hopes of a repeat performance. This time however, he had to deal with the more powerful big block counterparts, unlike the previous weeks SUNY Canton 358 Modifieds only event. Billings began the night with a fifth place start in his qualifying heat, and moved up to third before the checkered flag. In the 30 lap main event, Billings started from the eighth position. It didn’t take long to realize that there was a problem with the Billings Automotive, Stealth Racewear, Race 101, Turn One High Performance Steering Systems, Pastime Motors, Babe Design, Finish Line Web Design, Carquest and Enders Racing Engines powered Bicknell car, and Matt fell back to 15th when the first caution of the night was displayed on lap seven. Billings made a pit stop, and returned to the track from the rear of the field, and moved up to as high as 15th again before the problems returned. On first thought, it was determined that possibly they had some water in the fuel, but without the time yet to make a full diagnosis, they were unsure.
It was a busy day back at the Billings race shop on Saturday as they went over everything they could think of that might have caused the previous night’s problems. Water in the fuel was eliminated, and the search went on as they went over fuel lines, and every component of the fuel system. It wasn’t until after looking at the carburetor, that they discovered the culprit…. one of the jets had vibrated out of the front bowl of the carburetor. With the problem found, Billings began to focus on the upcoming race at Brockville Speedway that night.
Brockville Speedway hosted a 100-lap series event for the Canadian Super Challenge Series on Saturday night. Billings began the night by setting the third fastest time in his qualifying group, placing him third in his heat race. After finishing in the same third place spot, this put Billings in the redraw for one of the first 12 starting spots for the 100 lap event. Billings had picked position number eight, placing him on the outside of row four to start the main event. By lap 22, Billings had worked his way into the top five, and even got to as high as third at one point, before settling for fifth at the checkered flag.
“It was a good run for us tonight. There are a lot of good drivers here tonight, and we stayed very competitive all night long. I would like to thank everyone for all their support”, says Billings after his strong top five performance.
The night started out well on Sunday for Billings at Cornwall. After winning his qualifying heat, Billings was on the pole position for the 30 lap main event. As the green flag dropped, Billings car just didn’t handle like it had for the first part of the night. After falling through the field, a pit stop was made, and Billings returned to the track at the back of the field. Again, Billings struggled through the remainder of the event. Later, a failing right rear shock was discovered as the problem, and Billings was credited with a disappointing 22nd place finish.
This coming weekend, Billings will be back at Can Am on Friday night to conclude the season for regular track points. On Saturday night at Brockville they too will run their last night of regular points, and Sunday night at Cornwall, the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series will take to the track for a 100 event. This will be the last race of the 2010 season at Cornwall.
For more information on Matt Billings and the Billings Racing Team, please visit our website,
www.mattbillings74.com.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=12237.msg87257#msg87257
