Bill motors down the front stretch at the Viking Speedway last Saturday. Mike Spieker photo.
After a rough end to the month of August, Bill Mooney, driver of the No. 2 Lithia Toyota Millar Powered MasterSbilt, had hoped a turn to a new page on the calendar would bring some better luck, but September has started the way August ended with more bad luck, including a half-lap lead lost instantly in lapped traffic.
Thursday night in Winnipeg, Bill finished sixth in the heat, handing him the eleventh starting spot in the main event. Bill was able to climb his way up to eighth by the end of the race on the tricky glass slick surface.
Friday night at River Cities, Bill started fifth and finished third in his heat race. He went on to start on the pole of the main event, and built a half a lap lead before the first lapped car got loose in turn two, making contact with the right side of the 2 car. Bill was able to continue, despite heavy damage on the right side of the car, until the next lapped car got loose again, in the same spot, making more contact. This time the right rear tire went flat, sending Bill pit side for a tire change.
Bill made it back out, and fought back from eleventh to fifth at the line, but was scored sixth after a fracas at the end of the event.
Labour Day weekend with the NLRA at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN, saw Bill return to the 'High Flyin' Half Mile' for the first time in two years. Bill finished a close third in the heat after starting fifth, being just barely edged out by Viking regular Shawn Kirwin at the line. Bill started 15th in the feature and went on to finish 17th.
On night two, a poor draw buried Bill all the way back in the seventh starting spot, but he went on to finish fourth. Bill started 15th again in the feature, made some passes early, but ended up finishing where he started in the 15th position.
Bill has three wins, 18 top fives, and 25 top tens, in 34 nights of racing this season. Bill finished fourth in the standings at both the River Cities Speedway, and is third in points at the Red River Co-op Speedway. Bill also holds the fourth spot in the Northern Late Model Racing Association standings heading into the final night on Thursday. Bill is also ninth in the Wissota National standings.
Wissota only takes your best 30 nights of racing for their point standings. The last time the standings were updated, Bill was the only driver inside the top ten to not hit the 30 race plateau, making his ninth place spot in the current standings all that more impressive.
This week features three straight nights of racing at the River Cities Speedway for the 11th annual John Seitz Memorial.
At Lithia Toyota of Grand Forks, they want your experience to always be positive. From the moment you step inside their showroom and find the latest Toyota Corolla, Camry, Tundra, RAV-4 and Prius models on display, they're here to help put you behind the wheel of the right new or used vehicle for you.
Lithia Toyota of Grand Forks offers a wide range of other services as well, which you'll experience from the moment you choose your next car. For instance, their team of Toyota lease and loan specialists make it a priority to help you drive home in the vehicle you've chosen on your terms.
Even after you leave their dealership as a new owner, they aim to please by offering comprehensive care via their car service and repair center. Buying or leasing a vehicle from them ensures that you get top-notch maintenance as they use quality certified Toyota parts that you can buy, as well. It's just another way they look out for you, and further your connection with your ride.
Bill Mooney Racing would like to thank: Winnipeg Hearing Centres, OMG Candy, Weed Man, Lucas Oil, Pioneer Window & Door, Emerson Duty Free, Lithia Toyota of Grand Forks, Paintball Paradise, Maaco Auto Painting, Erickson Motors, Budget RV of Grand Forks, Curtis Carpets, Millar Racing Engines, MasterSbilt by JMR, Bill Mooney Racing Race Cars & Parts, Pizza Ranch of Grand Forks, McPhillips Toyota, AppraisalPro.ca, Future Tint and Stripe, and True Value Hardware of Grafton, for their support.