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IRL: Billy Boat Travels in Fast Lane From Dirt Tracks to IRL Victory Lane

16 September 1998

Billy Boat
FORT WORTH-DALLAS - Two years ago Billy Boat spent ten months of the year criss-crossing the country racing dirt track midget and sprint cars in one-stoplight communities. This Sunday, Boat will be considered one of the favorites, racing an Indy Car in the Lone Star 500 Pep Boys Indy Racing League event at Texas Motor Speedway.

Boat is the stereotype of what Indy Racing League founder Tony George hoped for when the league held its first race in 1996. He has progressed from the grassroots forms of racing which were the training ground for legendary A.J. Foyt and Johnny Rutherford.

Boat reached the first step of being considered a contender when he set the fastest qualifying time for this year?s Indianapolis 500. Boat then followed that with his initial career Pep Boys IRL victory in the June 6 True Value 500 at Texas.

"The IRL is a huge opportunity for me," said the pilot of Foyt?s Conseco Dallara/Aurora. "Tony George has made a venue where drivers like myself can showcase our talents. Indianapolis is the pinnacle of motorsports, it is the one race every driver wants to compete in. I consider myself lucky to be able to race there.

"We are really looking forward to the second Texas race this year. You always like to come to a place where if you are behind someone but are faster, that it is possible to pass him. After winning in June, our whole team is very anxious."

Boat currently leads the Texas Two-Step point standings which will award a $100,000 bonus to the driver that scores the most IRL points in the two Texas Motor Speedway Indy Car races. The Two-Step point runnerup will earn $50,000.

Tickets for the Sept. 20 Lone Star 500 are available at the Speedway?s ticket office, by calling (817) 215-8520 or at all area TicketMaster locations.

Editors Note: The images displayed in this article (plus many more) can be viewed in The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.