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FULTONVILLE, N.Y. – Last year at the New Glen Ridge Motorsports Park it took Floyd Billington just over a month to win his first of five features of the season. It didn’t take him that long this season.
Billington, of South Glens Falls, N.Y., captured his first win of the season in the 30-lap Modified feature event this past Sunday afternoon.
“Feels good to start the season off well,” stated Billington after a win and a second place finish last week. “This year they (other Modified competitors) can chase me in the points.”
Billington, 42, started on the inside of the second row in his Enders powered PMC mount. He patiently ran in the third position for much of the early portions of the event as Erik Nelson and Jeff Brownell Jr. battled for the race lead. It wasn’t until lap 13 when Billington made his move.
A caution slowed the field and when racing action resumed Brownell, the race leader, and Nelson came together allowing Billington to drive by both of them on the outside. Once out in front he easily pulled away to secure the win.
Brownell would be forced to settle for a second place finish with his Finger Lakes powered Bicknell. Jamike Sowle of Glen, N.Y. finished third for the second consecutive week while Nelson and Randy Hotaling completed the top five.
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THE POLE POSITION: Racing action got underway with Nelson taking the lead from his pole starting position. He led with Brownell falling in line behind him until the caution came out for Craig Hanson on lap 7 when he stopped in turn three with a right rear flat tire.
GAINING AN EDGE: On the restart, Brownell beat Nelson to the outside of turn four to take the top spot away. Before Nelson could mount a charge to regain the lead the yellow came out as Chuck Allen got into the dirt wall outside of turn two.
ONE MORE LEAD CHANGE: The caution flag came out one last time for Al McCoy on lap 12 when he spun in turn two. On the restart, Brownell and Nelson came together on the front straightaway forcing both of them to get off the gas allowing Billington to move to the outside and take the lead.
“I saw them playing around on the bottom,” stated Billington. “I figured it was time to get up and go so I went to the outside.”
RUNNING THE HIGH LINE: After taking the lead on the outside, Billington remained in that line even though he’d set the car up to run the bottom of the racing surface.
“Right before I went out I added a touch to the left year thinking I would run the bottom,” commented Billington. “I ran the bottom early on but once the top got dusted off I could run the outside really well.”
OVERPOWERED: Billongton led the final half of the event to take the checkered first while Brownell secured the runner-up finish with his big-block Modified.
“We had too much gear in the car,” said Brownell. “I got a big-block in the car and with the track being so slick I kept spinning the tires.”
BUMPING AND BANGING: Brownell was disappointed with the runner-up finish after he led several laps prior to the halfway point. The contact with Nelson on the restart ultimately cost him the lead.
“I definitely should have had that race,” stated Brownell. “But he (Nelson) kept putting the iron on me and when we got together on the restart Billington had all the momentum and he drove by both of us on the outside.”
TREMENDOUS BATTLE: While Brownell was busy trying to run down Billington the battle behind him for third between Sowle and Nelson was heating up. The two swapped lanes several times but it was Sowle sneaking by Nelson on the final lap on the inside of turn one to take third for the second consecutive week.
QUALIFYING: Two heat races were held with Nelson and Brownell Jr. taking the victories.
SUPPORT DIVISIONS: In other racing action, Alex Alberti claimed his first 25-lap Budget Sportsman feature event; Dave Bayes won his second consecutive 20-lap Street Stock feature; Chris Andew was victorious in the 15-lap Cruiser feature.
RACE RESULTS (4/13/08)
Modified Feature (30 laps): Floyd Billington, Jeff Brownell Jr., Jamike Sowle, Erik Nelson, Randy Hotaling, Dustin Purdy, Bob Vedder, Joe Carnibucci, Keith Shoemaker, Tim Mayne, Al McCoy, Vinnie DeCicco, Craig Hanson, Jeff Sheely, Chuck Allen
Budget Sportsman Feature (25 laps): Alex Alberti, Joe Ketchum, Jeremiah Munson, John Constantino, Frank Christiano, Angela Hoard, Robert Gray, Kory Wilder, Chris McCoy, Steve Douglass, Brian Jones, Jay Lias, Andy Graves
Street Stock Feature (20 laps): Dave Bayes, Chuck McSpirit, Rocky Warner, Rob VanAernam, Brian Cosselman, Randy Cosselman, Dave Sullivan, Tom Johnson, Sam Surnear, Cliff Haslun, Steve Cosselman, John Ketchum, Darrel Older, T.J. Marlett
Cruiser Feature (15 laps): Chris Andrew, Ken Hollenbeck, Bobby Rhinehardt, Pat McSpirit, Jamie Warner, Erica Morrison, Len St. Andrews, Nathan Sitterly, Heather King, Kerry Hollenbeck, Shawn Morrison, Shawn Hempstreet, Tarcey Walthers (DNS)
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