Billy prepping for 2008 season

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Billy Ogle Jr. is ready for the 2008 season with a new team. Billy has agreed to drive for Mike Kittrell this coming season. Billy will be driving a Rocket powered by Competition Engines with PBM Performance Products, Calhoun's Restaurant, Grady and King Construction, and Erson Cams on the car for 2008.

Billy charges toward 11th place finish

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 22, 2008) - Billy made his debut for his new team at the Spring Thaw 100 Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series race at Volunteer Speedway. The debut got off to a bit of a slow start as he posted the 21st fastest time out of 46 cars. He also finished 5th in his heat, the first non-transferring position during Friday night's preliminaries. Not the result Billy or the team were looking for.

Things turned around on Saturday. Billy started from the pole for his B-Main and easily won the last chance race to earn the 17th starting spot. Billy quickly charged through the field, picking off spots through most of the race. During the late stages, Billy moved into 10th place ahead of Brad Neat. But Neat fought back several laps later to retake the spot. That is all Billy could do and posted a 11th place finish.

Billy and the Kittrell Racing crew will be at Tazewell Speedway this Saturday for the next AAPTS race.

Billy's early spin dampens night

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 12, 2008) - Billy returned to racing after 3 weeks of rain outs at the Southern Regional Racing Series event at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville. The sunny weather also ushered in strong winds that made it a tough evening for all competitors.

Billy qualified 2nd in his group and was locked into the top 10 in the starting lineup. During the 50-lap feature, Billy was running in fifth when he spun in turn one on lap 3. That moved Billy to the rear of the field where passing was at a premium on the dried out track. Billy spent several laps trying to get around Brett Wyatt. Billy eventually made the pass and could not advance any more. With his tires gone, Billy eventually parked the Calhoun's Restaurant/Grady King Construction/PBM Performance Products Rocket Grand Prix.

Billy will be at the action-packed Tazewell Speedway on April 19 for the second race in the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series.

Billy soldiers on for 9th place finish

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 20, 2008) - The Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series race at Tazewell Speedway finally went off after 6 previous postponements. But a Sunday afternoon race did not make for ideal racing conditions.

Billy posted the 7th fastest time during qualifying. A pill draw for each of the two dashes inverted the whole field in both dashes, which pushed Billy from a pole spot to starting last in dash #2. Billy could make no gains in the dash and started 11th for the 50-lap feature.

The one-groove track did not make for conditions for a typical Billy Ogle charge to the front. Billy was able to hang on for a 9th place finish.

Billy and the Mike Kittrell race team will be back in action on Saturday night at Wartburg Speedway and the $5,000 to win Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series race. The team is looking at possibly running in the SRRS race at Crossville Raceway, but a decision will not be made until later in the week.

Billy has good weekend

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Billy Ogle Jr. was looking for some momentum heading into last weekend's SRRS race at Crossville Raceway and the AAPTS race at Wartburg Speedway. Ogle had only posted two finishes inside the top 10 all season.

Momentum did change in Friday's stop at Crossville Raceway and the Southern Regional Racing Series presented by PPM. Ogle posted the 4th fastest time out of 44 cars signed in for the $3,000 to win race.

Ogle found himself battling pole sitter Brett Wyatt for third spot in the early laps. Wyatt slid back to third after being passed by Dale McDowell and Randy Weaver. Ogle moved past Wyatt for third, but did not have anything for the front twosome. Ogle finished third, his best finish of the season driving for the Mike Kittrell race team.

"We had a good car, but I think we got beat on tires," Ogle said after the race. "The track rubbered up really bad and we run a little softer tire than we needed. It was still a good finish for us."

Saturday night saw Ogle move on to Wartburg Speedway and race #3 of the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series. Ogle struggled in qualifying, failing to make the top 12 out of 22 cars and missing both Sunoco dashes for the top 12 qualifiers.

But Ogle picked his way through traffic and salvaged an 8th place finish for the night. That finish moves Ogle into third in the AAPTS standings and is 38 points behind Stacy Boles, the new series leader.

Ogle's next race is the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series stop at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN for a $4,000 to win race.

Billy posts 5th place finish at Volunteer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (May 3, 2008) Billy Ogle Jr. got closer to a win and gained some ground in the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series chase at Volunteer Speedway this past weekend.

Billy turned in the 5th fastest time in qualifying for the $4,000 event. He went on to finish 4th in the 6-lap Sunoco Dash and earned the 4th starting spot for the feature.

Billy spent most of the 50-lap race in and around the top 5. A fast race track proved for some competitive racing and interesting turn of events for several drivers. Billy spent a good part of the mid-section of the race battling Chad Ogle for 5th. A mistake by Chad Ogle late in the race cost him several positions and moved Billy back into the top 5. He went on to finish 5th in the race.

The 5th place finish moved Billy into a tie for second place in the AAPTS standings. He is 49 points behind new points leader Rick Rogers and is tied for 2nd with Stacy Boles.

Billy and the Mike Kittrell Racing team will next visit Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville for a $3,000 to win race.

Second place finish moves Billy to second in AAPTS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (May 10, 2008) A second place finish now has Billy Ogle Jr. sitting in 2nd place in the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series point standings.

Billy returned to Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN for race #5 in the AAPTS season. Despite only winning one career feature win ever at MRP, Billy and the Mike Kittrell Racing team was optimistic heading into the MRP event.

Billy finished second in the second Sunoco Dash to earn the 8th starting spot for the 50-lap feature.

At the wave of the green, Billy began working his way toward the front. By lap 16, Billy had worked his way to 5th place. During the last half of the race, Billy's Rocket Grand Prix came to life as he used restarts to make key passes. By race's end, Billy was running second to Dale McDowell. On the final restart, McDowell pulled away from Billy to win the race. Billy's second place finish now puts in him in 2nd place in AAPTS points, just 34 points behind leader Rick Rogers.

Billy and crew are tentatively looking at the O'Reilly Southern All-Stars race at Cleveland Speedway as the AAPTS is off this weekend.

Billy closes in on AAPTS points lead

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (May 24, 2008) One of the tracks many of the drivers following the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series said would be a wild card in determining the 2008 championship would be Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, North Carolina. The wild action lived up to its reputation.

Billy finished 5th in the second of two Sunoco Dash races to earn the 11th starting spot for the 50-lap feature at Tri-County. Then the action got crazy.

Wrecks and mayhem was the theme at the bullring as many of the front runners and mid-pack cars suffered from problems or involved in crashes. Billy avoided the mayhem to pick his way through the field to post a third place finish. The finish now moves Billy to within 9 points of the AAPTS lead just behind Rick Rogers.

Billy now has a new black scheme on the Mike Kittrell owned #201. Photos will be posted later of the new look.

Plans are undecided on racing this weekend. Early indications are Billy and team will travel to Volunteer Speedway for a $3,000 to win unsanctioned event.

Billy posts 6th place finish at "The Gap"

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (May 31, 2008) With the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series taking a few weeks off, it was time for racing with less pressure than a title chase. Billy and the Mike Kittrell Racing team hit the road for Volunteer Speedway and the unsanctioned Rusty Wallace Pontiac 50.

Billy looked fast early on and finished 3rd in first dash race to earn the 3rd starting spot for the $3,000 to win race. Billy hung tough early battling the likes of Jeff Maupin and Shanon Buckingham. Billy's tires began to fade and he lost some spots late in the race. He finished the night in 6th position.

Tentative plans are for Billy to be at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville for the O'Reilly Southern All-Stars Series.

Billy rallies for 3rd place OSAS finish

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (June 7, 2008) A potentinal for a good night quickly turned into panic at the O'Reilly Southern All-Stars Series race at Mountain Raceway Park.

During the hot laps session, Billy made contact with Stacy Boles as Boles suddenly slowed with Billy fast approaching. The two made contact with Billy getting the worse end of it. He had some significant ride side damage. After the crew pulled the door off to examine the situation, they determined no major damage had been done. Billy returned to the track for qualifying.

Billy did not secure a starting spot through qualifying and had to earn a spot in the B-main. He finished 4th in the B-main to take the 14th starting spot.

Early in the feature, Billy struggled to make any progress. Mired in the back, Billy could not crack the top 10. The team decided to make a pit stop around the midway point to change a tire and make some adjustments. The move paid off.

Billy came rocketing through the field. He quickly made his way into the top 5 with a few laps remaining. He challenged Mark Vineyard for third, but Vineyard held the spot and finally took second from Anthony White. Billy passed White on the last lap to finish 3rd.

Billy and the Mike Kittrell Motorsports team are planning trips to North Georgia Speedway and Talladega Short Track with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Mechanical problems plague Southern trip

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (June 14, 2008) With a pair of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races within a short driving distance of home, Billy and the Mike Kittrell Motorsports team were eagerly awaiting their trips to North Georgia Speedway and Talladega Short Track. But mechanical problems put a damper on the trip.

A miss developed in the engine at North Georgia. The miss was evident during qualifying for the event. Billy posted a disappointing time, but worked to fix the car. The car seemed to be fixed as Billy made the race through his heat race. The problem returned during the feature as Billy opted to park the car early in the race and settled for 24th spot.

Determined to fix the problem, the team headed for TST. But problems continued as Billy once again struggled in qualifying, but failed to make the show.

Billy will be back with the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series at Crossville Raceway on Friday, June 20. The team could also head to Volunteer Speedway on June 21 for an unsanctioned $2,000 to win race.

Early crash crushes optimism

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (June 21, 2008) Billy and team had lots of optimism heading into the AAPTS race at Crossville Raceway. Billy won there last year and was looking for another win.

But a lap 15 crash ahead of Billy stacked up the backstretch with Billy being tagged by another car while trying to avoid the wreck. Billy's car sustained heavy front end damage and ended his night.

The next race will be the AAPTS race at Boyd's Speedway on June 28.

Back-up car gets Billy top 10 finish

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (June 28, 2008) After sustaining a hard crash at Crossville Raceway a week earlier, Billy and the Mike Kittrell Motorsports team rolled out a back-up car for the AAPTS race at Boyd's Speedway. The team was looking for a good finish to stay in the points chase.

Billy was one of the top 12 qualifiers out of 28 cars. He finished 3rd in the second Sunoco dash to claim the 9th starting spot for the 40-lap feature.

A rut in turn 1 made for an interesting evening during the main event. Several contenders had problems because of the track. Billy missed the rut time after time and brought home a 9th place finish. With points leader Rick Rogers finishing 3rd, Billy now sits 113 points out of the lead.

Lucas races don't go Billy's way

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - (July 7, 2008) With the primary car repaired and a new engine from Scott Pass' Competition Engines, Billy and team were eagerly awaiting the pair of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races at Tazewell Speedway and Volunteer Speedway on July 4th weekend.

The Tazewell race was up first. But rain halted the program and forced officials to reschedule the race for Sunday, July 6.

Next up was Volunteer Speedway. Billy posted the 6th best time during qualifying out of 44 cars. He finished 2nd in the second of 4 heat races to earn the 6th starting spot for the 60-lap feature. Mechanical problems appeared again as Billy retired from the race and posted a 24th place finish.

Back to Tazewell and Billy couldn't find the right combination with the car. He finished his heat race in 5th to take the 13th starting spot. In the 75-lap feature, Billy stayed mired in traffic and could only manage a 11th place finish.

The team is undecided at this time about this weekend's plans.