Billy Ogle Jr. News

Bad start still leads to Southern All-Stars championship

November 19, 2011 - Heading into the season finale of the Southern All-Stars Series at Cleveland Speedway, Billy Ogle Jr. led William Thomas by 2 points. It was anybody's championship.

The night got off to a bad start for Billy. In qualifying, he hit a wet spot on the track going into turn 1 and hit the turn 1 wall. It looked as though the night was going to be a long one. The crew went to work on the car to repair it and found the car was not damaged as badly as was feared. With another car wrecking in qualifying in the same spot, series officials elected to give Billy his second lap at the end of qualifying. He turned in the 10th fastest lap. Thomas was 6th in qualifying, there was still work to do.

Knowing he had to at least finish one spot behind Thomas to win the title, Billy got by a few cars in the opening laps of the race. He found himself in 7th, one spot behind Thomas. On a late restart, Billy saw and took advantage of the opportunity to pass Thomas and insuring himself the title. Billy finished in 6th and claimed the Southern All-Stars championship. Billy will honored at the series banquet in January.

 

First win at Dixie Speedway

November 5, 2011 - Score another first for Billy Ogle Jr. Given how long Billy has been racing, finding firsts is a rare feat. But Billy did just that at Dixie Speedway, scoring his first feature win at the Georgia track. Billy won the Fall Classic 50 over a good field of drivers. The win was worth $5,000.

Billy's next race will be the Southern All-Stars finale at Cleveland Speedway on November 19. Billy will try to win the series title. He holds a narrow points lead over William Thomas.

 

A win, 3rd place finish in SRRS action

October 15, 2011 - The Southern Regional Racing Series came to East Tennessee with a pair of races at Boyd's Speedway and Smoky Mountain Speedway.

On Friday night at Boyd's, Billy jumped out to the lead over Vic Hill. Hill dogged Billy through the early laps. By the mid-point of the race, Hill pressured Billy for the lead. The duo raced side-by-side for a number of laps until Hill finally took the lead. A few laps later, Ogle returned the favor and reclaimed the lead. Billy held off Hill to win the race.

On Saturday night at SMS, it was Hill that came out on top leading every lap. Billy started 8th and moved up to second place. It looked as though Billy would have a shot at Hill when a late caution came out. But Skip Arp took second on the restart. Billy went on to finish 3rd.

 

Pair of top 15 finishes highlight Georgia trip
October 9, 2011 - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series was making its annual trip through Georgia with races at Dixie Speedway and Rome Speedway. Billy struggled in his heat race, but did make the field for the race. He posted a 13th place finish where passing was difficult. At Rome, Billy posted a 11th place finish.

 

Another SAS win at Smoky Mountain

September 24, 2011 - The Southern All-Stars series cranked back up with a return to Smoky Mtn. Speedway in Maryville, TN. When the night was over, Ogle was the King of the Mountain.

Billy started the 50-lap race from the 10th starting spot. The track was racey and he had a good car. At the drop of the green, Billy quickly moved his way to the front. By lap 17, Billy found himself trailing race leader Skip Arp. Billy then took the lead on lap 19 and never looked back. William Thomas finish second. Billy now leads Thomas by 2 points heading into the series finale in November.

 

Third place finish at Waycross
September 17, 2011 - As Billy Ogle Jr. continues with the Southern All-Stars series points chase, he continues to make his way to new tracks. Waycross Speedway in Georgia was a new venture for Billy as the series traveled South for another $5,000 to win race. Billy made the most of his trip by finishing third in the 50-lap event. Race winner Tyler Ivey and former series champion Ivedent Lloyd finished ahead of Billy in the final running order. Series points leader William Thomas finished 4th. That allowed Billy to cut the lead down to 2 points. It will be back to familiar turf this weekend as the Southern All-Stars returns to Smoky Mountain Speedway.

 

Decent showing in Scorcher at Bulls Gap
August 25, 2011 - The 8th annual Scorcher at Volunteer Speedway was the next stop for Billy Ogle Jr. and the Blount Motorsports team. This year's race was sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and attracted top drivers from across the country. Billy made the race for the stacked event. He did not transfer through his heat race, but did make the main event by finishing second in his B-main to start 19th. Billy struggled to move up as racing in the back of the pack was intense. Billy wound up finishing 16th in the race.

 

Return to Cleveland nets second place finish
August 20, 2011 - Southern All-Stars series action returned to the schedule for Billy Ogle Jr. and the BMS team at Cleveland Speedway. Billy qualified 5th out of the 32 entries for the Jean Johnson Memorial. When the race started, Billy found the track to his liking and immediately began to move forward. As he was making his progress, eventual winner Chris Madden moved by Billy. In the closing laps, Billy got around early race leader Skip Arp for second in a race that went caution free. Billy now sits 4 points outside the lead in the Southern All-Stars point standings.

 

Runner-up spot at Smoky Mountain
August 14, 2011 - A return to Smoky Mountain Speedway was up next for Billy Ogle Jr. The SRRS race was on tap that drew a variety of drivers from across the region. Billy qualified 3rd behind Austin Dillon and Casey Roberts. Just before the feature was ready to roll, rain moved across the racetrack and the program was washed out. The decision was made to complete the program the next afternoon. Day racing proved to be trecherous for several drivers as a number of cautions on the start delayed the race from getting under way, including pole sitter Austin Dillon. Billy moved up to the #1 slot for the start. But it was Roberts that took the lead once racing went green. Billy stayed on Roberts' tail throughout the entire race, but could not find another groove to make a pass. Billy settled for a second place finish.

 

Third place finish at TST
July 30, 2011 - Billy Ogle Jr. and the Blount Motorsports team traveled to Talladega Short Track for the Southern All-Stars Series sanctioned Mike Head Jr. Memorial race. Things looked promising early as Billy set fast time for the event with a time of 13.536 seconds. Rain delayed the start of the race. Once underway, Billy zipped out to the early lead. But a hard-charging William Thomas grabbed the lead just before the halfway point of the race. The two would battle for the lead for a number of laps before Thomas pulled away. Tim Busha passed Billy late in the race for second. Billy would settle for third and remain a few points outside the points lead.

 

Billy scores 2nd place finish at Tazewell
July 23, 2011 - Billy Ogle Jr. came from the 4th starting spot to finish second in the Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals event at Tazewell Speedway. The racing surface was a bit rough that produced a high amount of attrition. Polesitter Vic Hill took the early lead, but lost the lead after being pinned behind slower traffic. Tony Knowles took the lead from Hill only to run into the back of Chad Ogle and be knocked from the race. Chris Madden assumed the lead and looked to be on his way to the win. But a wheel came off Madden's car late in the race. This moved Hill back into the lead with Billy in second. Billy's #201 was running a bit hot and did not allow him to make a move for the lead. He held on to second place.