Tornado Alley – Mother Nature is Rolling!

(Bill W) April 24, 2008 – Many sprint car drivers are restless in the Midwest right now, and few more so than Billy Alley.  Two straight weekends of bad weather have sidetracked racing plans, and he’d like to unleash the SA Racing #22 rather than watch the Weather Channel again.  This week’s plans include running with the big boys.  The World of Outlaws are scheduled to visit Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, South Dakota on Friday and the Knoxville Raceway Saturday.

Huset’s banked 3/8 mile oval was the site of Billy’s first 410 win in the United States.  On July 3, 2005, he started seventh in the family #22, and after battling with leader Jake Peters for a couple of laps, took the point for good on lap 19.  “I was definitely in a rhythm that night,” he remembers.  “We had her rolling around Huset’s pretty good.  That was a special night for us.”

Billy shares one legend’s opinion of racing at Huset’s and Knoxville.  “Like Doug Wolfgang says, if you can run Knoxville and Huset’s, you can run anywhere in the country comfortably, because of the contrast in the tracks.  Huset’s is the type of place that if you’re not comfortable, it will show right away.”

The fans in South Dakota welcome Billy every time he travels up I-29.  “Huset’s is a place where I’ve gained a lot of fans,” he says.  “Most of them are pretty loyal.  I get a lot of e-mails from there.  When I ran second at Eagle earlier this year, a bunch of fans came down from there just to watch me.”

Motor problems plagued him last year when the WoO came to Huset’s in July.  “It’s a different place,” says Billy.  “When the Outlaws come, they have a different kind of fast there, and that’s what we hope we have on Friday.  After running a few weekly shows, they show you how fast they really are.  Every time you race, you learn though.  Last year we raced a lot.  Hopefully, now we can settle down with one team here for several years.  That’s the only way a guy can compete with the best, is by settling down with a team for awhile.”

Billy is also anticipating his first shot at Knoxville with SA Racing.  “I’m excited to get Knoxville,” he says.  “I really wish we could have gotten it in last week before the ‘Guns’ come in.  That’s what was dealt, so that’s what we’ll do.  We’ve got a new car and new stuff that will be rolling around the raceway…granted I have a lot of laps there and we should be comfortable there, but if we’re a little off, you don’t have much time to make up for that with two laps (time trials) dictating the rest of your night.”

Sometimes Billy looks back to a fourth place run he had with the WoO at Knoxville in June of 2006.  “Ricky Logan told me once if you’re going through a bad spell, just get out some tapes of when things were going well,” says Billy.  “My mom tapes me every week, so she has to watch me through the camera instead of live…I went back and watched that race.  That’s one of the most fun tapes for me to watch.  It does show you that you can do it, and most of this deal is about believing in yourself.”

That is, if Mother Nature cooperates!

Hoseheads Radio

If you are too far from Knoxville to make it on Saturday night, Billy’s races will be on the internet at www.HoseheadsRadio.com all season long!  Join “Hot” Rod Pattison and Bill W for all the action starting at 7:30 p.m. CST.  SA Racing is a proud partner of Hoseheads Radio this season!

Billy on the Radio

Billy is making morning appearances all race season long on KJJY (92.5 FM).  He’s looking forward to talking about racing…and other things.  “Because it is a country station, I think we’ll talk hunting,” he says of his love of the outdoors.  “I think the people in Iowa can appreciate that!”

Website

Be sure to visit the Kid’s Corner at the website.  Your wing design could be used on the car!

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

Randy Wilson of Knoxville asks: I understand that you had quite a sports career in high school.  Could you fill us in on some (or all) of what you did?  I think it would be fascinating for fans to know that part of your life.

Billy answers: I was hoping my high school career would somehow lead to a college education.  My high school (Lincoln Southeast) was a huge football school.  I graduated with around 900 students, which definitely helped our sports program.  If you were in the Lincoln area, and wanted to play football at the next level, you went to Southeast.  I had pretty good success there.  I played on the varsity three out of my four years, and we won the state title those years.  Two of those years I didn’t help much because of my knees (torn ACLs).  My senior year, I was a captain.  I played linebacker next to Barrett Ruud, who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  I didn’t have the talent he had, but I tried just as hard.  My injuries really slowed me down from playing in college.

I wrestled from fourth grade on.  The doctors said I wouldn’t be able to wrestle my junior year, because of my knees…but true story, I parked in the handicap parking spot, went into the state tournament and took fifth place.  My senior year, after tearing my knee up in football again, wrestling was the only thing to look forward to.  I came back and for one week I was ranked #1 in the state at 171 pounds.  In the conference meet, I tore my ACL in the conference meet, and that’s when this racing thing sort of built me back up.

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 has had success at Huset’s Speedway.  Despite only winning on one occasion, in his 21 feature starts there (20 have been in a 410), he has finished in the top ten 19 times.  He finished in the top seven 89% of the time at the raceway last year alone.  His best WoO finish at Knoxville was fourth on June 23, 2006, when he trailed Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz and Brooke Tatnell to the stripe.  He also finished fourth in a Knoxville Nationals prelim on August 12, 2005 trailing Shane Stewart, Tatnell and Danny Lasoski.  He was the National’s second highest point getter that year.

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 and SA Racing would like to thank Delta Oil, Sterling Physical Therapy, 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.

The SA Racing Team hopes to get out of the parking lot this weekend!

Tornado Alley – Something Old, Something New!

(Bill W) April 17, 2008 – As Billy Alley embarks on the 2008 Knoxville Raceway campaign starting this Saturday night; he will bring something old and something new with him.  The SA Racing Team has been formed recently, but many of the components have been with the Lincoln, Nebraska sprint car driver since his career began in August 2001.  Before the team hits Knoxville on Saturday, they’ll run at Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood in an ASCS-Midwest vs. ASCS-Northern Plains tilt.

SA Racing was formed a few months ago, and has been a blessing, in part, because many of those Billy has had success with in the past, are back with him.  “Partnering with Shane is new and SA Racing is something we’re really proud of,” he says.  “But my dad and (Bob) “Buns” (Richardson) and Allyn (‘Ace’) Shiveley were there before when we ran the #22.  So from that aspect, things are clicking a lot faster than they would if everyone was new.”

One new thing is a JEI chassis.  “The racecar is new, so it may take us a little while to get comfortable with the car, but Barry Jackson from JEI has done a lot to help us,” says the 2006 Knoxville Raceway track champion.  “We have a great starting point!  Hopefully, I can get my elbows up a little bit and be comfortable.  Once you’re up to speed and comfortable at Knoxville, then you can start moving around a little bit and doing some damage!”

The competition in the 410 class will be as fierce as any time in the track’s history.  “It’s great for the sport of 410 sprint car racing,” says Billy.  “A lot of people say it’s dying out, but on Saturday nights at Knoxville this year, it’s not going to feel like it!  Knoxville is special.  The facilities spoil you.  The way they run the show spoils you.  The fan support is always great!  It’s just a friendly atmosphere.  That’s why people keep coming back.  You can get a lot of publicity there.  It’s hard to make any money in this sport, but you can do decent there on a local level.”

Billy is determined to make the most of his opportunity in 2008.  “Competition is only going to make us faster when the Outlaws come to town,” he says.  “It’s going to make us all better racers.  I know we have good equipment, and I have confidence in my driving ability.  We need to focus on our team and what we’re doing.  I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but myself.  It’s been awhile since I’ve stood in Victory Lane over there (Knoxville).”

The objectives at Knoxville are simple.  “My goal is to be competitive there every week,” he determines.  “If we can get that mindset, we’ll be a team to be reckoned with.  A lot of it is mental.  If you don’t think you can win when you strap in, I don’t care how good the car is, you’re not going to win!”

With three wins and six top fives in seven feature starts at NRP, Billy is confident heading into Friday night as well.  “I enjoy racing there, and I’ve had some success there,” he says.  “Usually, Ed Kosiski has a racy track for us there.  I look forward to letting that new Wesmar motor of ours open up a little bit.  It will be one of the higher momentum tracks we’ve been on, and I think that will play to our strength.”

Hoseheads Radio

If you are too far from Knoxville to make it on Saturday night, Billy’s races will be on the internet at www.HoseheadsRadio.com all season long!  Join “Hot” Rod Pattison and Bill W for all the action starting at 7:30 p.m. CST.  SA Racing is a proud partner of Hoseheads Radio this season!

Billy on the Radio

Billy will be making Monday morning appearances all race season long on KJJY (92.5 FM).  He’s looking forward to talking about racing…and other things.  “Because it is a country station, I think we’ll talk hunting,” he says of his love of the outdoors.  “I think the people in Iowa can appreciate that!”

Website

Be sure to visit the Kid’s Corner at the website.  Your wing design could be used on the car!

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

Mark in Des Moines asks: What are the differences in the JEI chassis compared to other cars you’ve driven in the past?

Billy answers: It’s a tighter (handling) racecar.  We’ve only raced the 410 one time (Pevely), and I was pretty comfortable.  We were freer than we had been before.  It seems to get into the racetrack a lot better.  These cars have a balance to it, and if it’s at a point where the balance is off, it doesn’t matter what kind of car you have.  That was our problem earlier this year.

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

According to Openwheeltimes.com, in 90 career feature starts at Knoxville Raceway, Billy has 13 wins (14%), 48 top fives (53%) and 67 top tens (74%).  The two-time 360 Nationals champion won twice in route to his 2006 410 track championship.  During his 2003 360 Championship, he won five times including both ends of Twin Features night (7-12-03).  He won in his 9th career 360 start (6-21-03) and his 38th time out in a 410 at the track (9-3-05).

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.

The Billy Alley/Brian Brown rivalry should be one to watch again in 2008! (IBRACN Photo)

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.

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 August 18.  The team will turn their focus towards that night, as well as their quest for another Knoxville track championship, beginning August 19.

Website

Be sure to visit the Kid’s Corner at the website.  Your wing design could be used on the car!

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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, 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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with "Alley" in the subject line.

Billy works inside of Jake Peters at Eagle Raceway (Doug Johnson Photo)

Billy and SA Racing would like to thank Delta Oil, Sterling Physical Therapy, 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.

Tornado Alley – Eagle’s Nest!

(Bill W) March 27, 2008 – After a two-year absence, Billy Alley will be back on the track where everything started, Eagle Raceway.  The 1/3 mile oval is close to home for the Lincoln, Nebraska driver, and it will play host to the Ice Breaker Challenge for 360 sprints this Saturday and Sunday night.  A Friday night practice session will allow the 2002 Eagle Raceway champion and SA Racing to unleash their 410 engine for the first time this season on a track in which they are comfortable.

Billy grew up watching heroes like JJ Riggins and Ray Lipsey at Eagle before driving with success there himself.  He relishes the opportunity to return to competition at Eagle.  “I’m excited to be racing at home,” he says.  “We haven’t raced there since the World of Outlaws show in 2006.  Usually when we go there, we’re pretty good.  We’ve done well when the Outlaws have come, so hopefully, I can at least make the A main this week!”

Six of Billy’s last seven races at Eagle have been in a 410 with the World of Outlaws.  He has more than held his own with the WoO at his home track, posting three eleventh place finishes as well as a 12th against the best in the business.  His last 360 action at the track came when he drove the Mark Burch #1m to a sixth place finish in the Jim Eckley Memorial in June of 2006.

Billy’s partnership with Shane Sterling eases his mind about recent struggles and keeps his eye on what’s most important…what lies ahead.  “Eagle is the next race, so that’s what I have to focus on.  My partner (Sterling) makes everything easy for us.  He understands what’s going on with our early struggles here, and he works to keep everyone ‘up’.  That’s what our team needs right now, because we’re not used to struggling.”

A Step Forward in OKC

The team traveled to the Spring Nationals at the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City last weekend for a two-night show.  Again, 50+ of the best drivers in sprint racing were gathered and starving action.  Being a tick off is going to have a huge impact in that kind of scenario, and that was the case for the team.  “We struggled quite a bit again,” says Billy.  “We tried to go back to more of a normal set-up for us from what we had in Dallas, and it still didn’t work too well.  Friday night it was heavy and we kind of finished where we started in both races.”

A fifth place finish on Friday in the heat, and a disappointing third place tally in the B, left Billy one spot out of a feature transfer.  Saturday saw a bit of luck in the heat race.  “We did get the car better on Saturday, but it wasn’t where we need it to be,” says Billy.  “We can’t blame it on the draw.  Kaleb Johnson, who’s a great go-kart racer up in Sioux Falls and is going to be famous some day, drew for me.  We started on the pole and by the time we hit the flag stand, we were fifth.  We had some stumbling problems at the start of the race.  Luckily, we got back to fourth, and then Terry McCarl dropped out with engine problems and Natalie Sather had some problems on the last lap, so we got back to second.”

The fortunate circumstances set Billy outside of row eight for the main event.  “In the feature, we stumbled back to 22nd by lap two,” he says.  “I just couldn’t get any forward drive from the car at the beginning.  At the end of the race, (Bob) ‘Buns’ (Richardson) was really positive about how the car looked.  I was the last car on the lead lap (finishing 20th), and Jason Johnson was behind us, but couldn’t get around.  We made our first feature of the year, so we were happy.  Of course, if you would have told me that a month ago, I would have thought that was terrible.”

The team continues to try to get their Wesmar power hooked to the track.  “We’ve had some trouble with the motor on the starts so far,” says Billy.  “‘Buns’ changed the whole thing around, and we may have gone a little too far on Saturday.  It’s more of a hesitation without a smooth power band, and the tires are spinning out from underneath me.  It’s a beast of a motor, but we need to find a way to get that power to the track.  When we get to some momentum racetracks, I think we’re going to take off with this motor.”

Of course, there is the issue of the tough competition faced so far with a new team.  “That ASCS deal is tough,” admits Billy.  “There are guys that I didn’t know, and I still don’t.  I do know what a lot of their tail tanks look like now though!  There were a lot of fast cars there, so we have to put that in perspective, but we’re never going to be good with it until we’re in front of them!”

T-shirts

Also visit www.RacingThreads.com for apparel on clearance!

Down the Alley

Julie in Lincoln, NE asks: You seemed to have immediate success at Eagle Raceway.  I think you won the third time you had run there.  What is it about Eagle that suits your style?

Billy answers: I grew up at Eagle, and had been watching guys race there since I was little.  Believe it or not, I’m a listener.  Listening to JJ Riggins and Ray Lipsey, and Bob Richardson definitely helped me get around that place.  A lot of the credit goes to Bob.  He not only found my style right away, but knew how to set up a car for that race track.  It wasn’t like we were going somewhere that no one had ever been.

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 goes to Eagle having won nine times in 41 feature starts there (22%).  He also has 20 top fives (49%) and 25 top tens (61%) at the banked 1/3 mile oval.  The 2002 Eagle Raceway champion as a rookie, the track was a big reason he won National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum 360 Rookie of the Year honors that season.  He won six of his features at the track during the 2002 season.

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.

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, Fuel Safe, C&R Radiator, Vortex Wings, Sander Engineering, K&N Filters and Harris Decals.

Billy in action at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City (Doug Johnson Photo)

Tornado Alley – SA Racing is Born! 

(Bill W) March 20, 2008 – A few months ago, Billy Alley wasn’t sure what he was going to do.  The Lincoln, Nebraska sprint car driver and 2006 Knoxville Raceway track champion was going to have to piece something together to race anywhere in 2008.  Enter Pleasant Hill Iowa’s Shane Sterling.  Sterling had become acquainted with Billy during last year’s racing season, and the two had hit it off.  One phone call from Shane to Billy two months ago set up what appears to be a force to be reckoned with for some time to come!

The offer included everything Billy needed in a race team.  The newly formed partnership encompassed a transporter, a hand chosen racing team, and parts.  SA Racing was born!  “SA Racing evolved two months ago, and we’ve been putting racecars together ever since,” says Billy.  “We’ve definitely got good equipment and good people behind us, so I believe with the hard work we’re putting in, we’re going to get results.”

The team has lined up an ambitious schedule that focuses on another Knoxville Raceway track championship.  Sprinkled in are Midwest 410 dates with the World of Outlaws and ASCS 360 races where they can be plugged in.  The team headed down to the Devil’s Bowl Speedway near Mesquite, Texas last weekend to shake their new JEI/Wesmar powered sprinter out.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go well, and that didn’t set well with one of the most competitive drivers out there.  “We always have high expectations, but our journey to Devil’s Bowl was tough,” says Billy.  “The competition was fierce, and they definitely got the best of us.  We were in left field with the car, to be honest.  We got a little away from our game plan.  It was a good learning experience for us, I think.  In the past, we’ve always been competitive with the 360’s so that made it even a little bit tougher.”

It was evident that the car was loose on the banked ½ mile in the prelim on Friday.  “We got caught off-guard because the car was real real free on Friday,” says Billy.  “We tried to make up for that on Saturday, but the racetrack changed quite a bit.  I think everyone may have been a little nervous, and we kind of got ahead of ourselves a bit.  Then we were playing catch-up, and that’s never good in sprint car racing!”

Many in the Midwest do not utilize the JEI chassis, making it hard to bounce around ideas on a local level.  The Pennsylvania based car is relatively new, but it is a proven winner.  “I chatted with Barry Jackson of JEI this week, and he wondered what was wrong with the car (in Texas),” says Billy.  “He related that there aren’t too many people running 360 JEI cars out there.  We know Lucas Wolfe was really successful in one in Pennsylvania last year, so it can be done, and we’ll figure it out soon with his help and our expertise as well.”

When things don’t go the best, the best thing to do is get right back out on the track and that’s what SA Racing will be doing this weekend.  The Spring Nationals at the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City will be the host for the American Sprint Cars on Tour series this Friday and Saturday night.  “We’re really looking forward to getting back on the track at Oklahoma City,” says Billy.  “The thing I remember about the smaller 3/8 track is that it’s not round.  It’s got a different shape to it, so it’s a little different.  You have to be on top of your setup to go good there.”

In addition to Sterling, team members include Billy’s reunion with crew chief Bob “Buns” Richardson.  Other crew members include Billy’s father Stewart, Michael Fuller, Seth Boynton and Allyn “Ace” Shively.  “We’ve been working all week on things, so we should be good to go in OKC!” says Billy.

Website

If you are a youngster interested in designing a sprint car, check out our “Kid’s Page” on the website to check out how!  Your design could be used on the SA Racing #22 later this year!

T-shirts

Also visit www.RacingThreads.com for apparel on clearance!

Down the Alley

Bill W asks: I know you are a big deer hunter, how did the hunting season go for you this Winter?

Billy answers: Deer season went well.  I think I was out in the deer stand 57 times.  Most people keep notes on the racing, but I actually keep notes while I’m deer hunting.  Temperature, wind direction, when the rut is starting, going on, or ending, I’ve got it all.  If anyone wants to know what’s up in Nebraska deer hunting, just let me know!  I had some luck last season.  I shot a 140 class buck with my bow.  I also got a nice one with the rifle.  We’ve got some really good ground to hunt on, so we’re lucky.

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 has done more at the age of 24 than most sprint car driver’s achieve in their entire career.  In addition to being the Knoxville track champion in 2006, he was the 360 track champion there in 2003, the New Zealand Grand Prix Winner in 2005, he has won two 360 Nationals, has been named both the National 410 and 360 Rookie of the Year (’04 and ’03), won the ASCS-Midwest crown in 2005, and was the 2002 Eagle Raceway Champion and Rookie of the Year.  Billy has won 38 features out of 260 (15%), and has been in the top ten in 185 (71%) of those events.

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.

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, Fuel Safe, C&R Radiator, Vortex Wings, Sander Engineering, K&N Filters and Harris Decals.

Billy in action at Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Allan Holland)