By Bill W, Brandon Anderson photo
June 9, 2010 โ Billy Alley used last Saturday as a tune-up for this weekendโs Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska. After starting the night in the back of the pack, he charged from 13th to a 3rd place finish. This weekendโs event will include the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series, so the Lincoln, Nebraska driver will have to find some of the magic he won a championship with at Eagle in 2002.
The heavy 1/3 mile oval yielded little passing in the heat last Saturday night. โThe point average deal put us in the back, and it was really heavy,โ says Billy, who was making his second appearance of the year at Eagle. โA guy can pass when itโs heavy, but you have to be perfect, and we were really tight. It was kind of โfollow the leaderโ.โ
The seventh place run set him up in row seven for the main event. โWe had to start 13th there, and the track slickened up to where you could race,โ says Billy. โI think weโre getting better on the short tracks, but we havenโt been racing much. Weโve done best on the big tracks the last few years, and we get back on these bullrings and itโs a different type of racing.โ
Billy took to the surface and surged to a third place finish. โWe were pretty good at the end of that feature, and I started to get that old feel back,โ he says. โYou need to drive a certain way, and you canโt be timid as a driver. Thatโs how I was in the heat race. We freed it up in the feature, and I was more comfortable. I just needed a little more racecar.โ
It was a good feeling to get a solid run in before this weekend. โIt was nice to be good there again and be running up front,โ says Billy. โIf things went our way, we could have had a shot at it. The local guys have been running there a long time, and itโs not like theyโre slow.โ
Although he knows his work is cut out for him, Billy is thankful for the opportunity at a big purse with a short tow. โWe got better every time we hit the track, and hopefully, this weekend we can build on that,โ he says. โItโs nice to have a show that big that pays that good close to home.โ
Over Memorial Day weekend, he posted a pair of solid finishes with the ASCS-Midwest series. At I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska, he was sixth. โAt I-80 we were really good in the heat, but we backed up a bit in the feature,โ says Billy. โWe screwed the car up. We started up front and drove straight to third, but backed it up after that.โ
The opposite was true at Junction Motor Speedway near McCool Junction, Nebraska. Billy struggled in the heat, but drove from 13th to fifth in the feature. โWe didnโt draw well, but we werenโt good in the heat either,โ he says. โWe struggled to be fast early, but we were really good in the feature. If we started up front, I think we would have had something.โ
On the Web
To learn more about Billy Alley, including updated results and photos, visit www.BillyAlley.com!
Billy Alley Gear!
For t-shirts and other apparel, visit www.BillyAlley.com!
Vintage Ric Flair Clip of the Week!
Racing needs the promotion and showmanship of the โNature Boyโ! Donโt count out J.R. Ewing, Ric Flair or Billy Alley at EagleโฆDiamonds are foreverโฆand so is Ric FlairโฆWOOO!
Down the Alley
Russ Hape asks: Whatโs the key to being fast at Eagle?
Billy answers: Eagle is a little like Husetโs (South Dakota). You have to get right up on the fence to get comfortable. You carry a lot of momentum there. The walls around it are a good guidance point, but you have to be comfortable to run up there fast.
Got a question for Billy? Send it to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, and we may answer it in this section! Put “? for Billy” in your subject line.
Alley’s Anecdotes
Billy enters the weekend with nine career wins at the Eagle Raceway, where he won the track championship and Rookie of the Year in 2002. He also won the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame 360 Rookie of the Year that season. His first ever win at Eagle on September 1, 2001 came ahead of Dennis Parker, Regan Kitchen, Mark Finnell and Terry Holliman.
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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with “Alley” in the subject line.
Billy would like to thank Buss Excavating, Bolz Farms, Schmit Automotive, Aeroquip Performance Products, K&N Filters, Arrow Ambulance Remounts, Stepping Stone Genetics, Awesome Racewear, Hoosier Tire, McLain Motorsports, The Buckles Brothers, F&K Rod Ends, โHigh Rollerโ the Pig Farmer, Harris Decals, Central Body Shop, Design & Fabrication Solutions, Kadavy Fabrication and Speedway Motors.