By Bill W
March 29, 2011 โ The time is this weekend for Billy Alley. Heโll be hitting 81 Speedway near Wichita, Kansas with the NCRA in the Billy Alley Enterprises #22 machine. He is stoked to get going after several events in 2010 kept his racing to a minimum. His schedule includes more shows this season, and he intends on getting back to fulfilling the high expectations he puts on himself.
The Lincoln, Nebraska driver knows the sprint car world is about โWhat have you done for me lately?โ โItโs easy to fall a little bit out of the spotlight in anything you do,โ he says. โThe last couple years havenโt been the best race-wise, but personally, I got a lot of things accomplished.โ
Being a fan favorite, it is hard for anyone to forget Billy. Last year, he spent much of his time preparing a race shop and home for his family. โWe were able to build a 120×60 race shop on an acreage outside of town,โ he says. โWe have a house built inside there as well. Itโs really neat. I couldnโt have done it without the help and labor of my dad and my in-laws. It was a ton of work, but it was definitely worth it.โ
Life events including the passing of some close friends, including Jesse Hockett, have allowed Billy to reframe his racing goals. โI had a couple of close friends pass away in the last year, and it makes you realize that life is short,โ he says. โIโm as excited as Iโve been to go racing since I started in sprint cars back in 2001. I canโt wait.โ
Billy knows it will be a hard road, but he has a familiar foundation of supporters surrounding him. โIโm probably not the best in the country, but Iโm not the worst either,โ he says. โWeโve had a lot of success. We have Bob โBunsโ Richardson and my dad helping me along with my buddies here in Lincoln. Everyone is excited.โ
The 2006 Knoxville Raceway 410 champion is looking for some wins, and his quest starts Saturday in Wichita. โI think we can compete with anyone in the country, and I can say that with confidence,โ says Billy. โIf everything is in order, we can be right at the top. Weโre not there yet. Itโs going to take a lot of work, and Iโm excited to get going.โ
As always with his family team, support from more partners would help him ramp things up. โI hope to meet some more people along the way to help us out,โ he says. โWe like to help them with their side of it as well. Itโs a two-way street these days. The money part can definitely get you down in this sport.โ
Billy raced sparingly in 2010. He knows to get back where he needs to be, he needs to race more. โYou canโt expect to take a week off here and there and go out and compete in the big races,โ he admits. โYou have to race every weekend. I understand that, and thatโs why weโre picking up the schedule this year. My ultimate goal is to get back to Knoxville racing 410โs. To do that, I have to go back and win racesโฆnot just talk about it, but do it.โ
The team finished the year with a big win at the I-80 Speedway in nearby Greenwood, Nebraska. $3,000 to win shows looms on the schedule April 8 and 9 at that track. โEnding the year with that win was huge from a mental aspect,โ he says. โWe have some good equipment, and weโre ready to go.โ
Most importantly, Billy became a father. Harrison Martin Alley was born in the off-season. โI didnโt know what that would do to me mentally from the racing side,โ he says. โI think it has really motivated me. I just want to get in my sprint car and do my thing. Itโs time to start working back up the ladder! WFO!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!
Billyโs Clip of the Week!
Billy at speed at Knoxville at the 2009 Knoxville Nationals!
Down the Alley
Billyโs adoring fans ask: How did the 2010 deer season go?
Billy answers: I shot the biggest deer Iโve ever shot with my bow right out of the back door of the shop. It was about 200 yards southeast of the shop. This acreage fits me perfectly. Itโs a dream really.
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 rode the wave of five wins, including a pair on Twin Features Night to win the 2003 360 track championship at Knoxville Raceway. It was his rookie season at the sprint car capital of the world. He was followed in the standings by Jesse Giannetto, Josh Higday, David Hesmer and Ed Ergenbright.
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 Bolz Farms, Schmit Automotive, Manion Framers for Life, Aeroquip Performance Products, K&N Engineering, Ironwood Builders, KDM, Buss Excavating, Harris Decals, Hoosier Tires and Stewart Alley Concrete.
Billy will be coming off of the pond this weekend