Ogle discusses his departure from Blount Motorsports and racing future

Billy Ogle Jr. finds himself at a crossroads in his racing career after his departure from Blount Motorsports three weeks ago.

The 50 year-old driver from Knoxville left the team after a dismal showing at Eldora Speedway for the preliminary events for the World 100. After spending nearly five years with the Maryville-based team, Ogle said the Eldora trip was not the reason things came to an end.

“I hadn’t been happy there for a while,” Ogle stated. “They were cutting me out more and more on what I got to drive the car. They wanted me to come work at the shop one day a week. I understand why they wanted me to do that. But I was having to take a day off my regular job just to go over there for a day. That was costing me about $200 every day I did that.”

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Billy Ogle Jr. (left) and BMS owner Larry Garner (right) walk through the SMS pit area.

Ogle works in construction.

Ogle said the decision to leave was strictly his decision. He felt more and more pressure being placed on him when the team did not perform well.

“I kind of left like they were putting the blame on me,” Ogle said. “We got the new Rocket this year and really struggled with that car. I don’t think it was good as the one we had last year. I felt like that car was a bit of a lemon. We won some races with this car and won the Spring Nationals with it. But it just never seemed as good as the one we had last year.”

The team experienced their share of troubles through much of the 2014 season. A series of engine problems plagued the team through the summer months. That hurt their effort during this year’s running of the Summer Nationals. Ogle did manage to finish third in that series, but was 79 points behind champion Chris Madden.

The disappointment of the Summer Nationals stint just led to more unhappiness for Ogle.

“It really became a high pressure situation for me,” Ogle said. “Tommy doesn’t race every week and I was. I just felt like whatever the team did was being placed all on me. I hadn’t been happy for a while and it just got worse through the year.”

Things finally came to a head at Eldora Speedway for the World 100 weekend. Ogle struggled on night one and that continued on night two. Ogle decided to leave and head back to Knoxville.

“I really didn’t want to go up there,” Ogle said. “I didn’t think we had the car to go up there and be competitive. I had only been up there once before and had maybe five laps total. Plus, I had to take three days off from work. Not having a car that was good enough to run with a lot of those guys and no more experience than I had up there, I didn’t think we’d be very good up there and we weren’t. So I got up Saturday morning and left. I guess they took it that I quit.”

Despite not having a plan in place, Ogle feels better now that he is basically a free agent.

Billy Ogle Jr. waves to the crowd following his Southern All-Stars win in April 2014.

Billy Ogle Jr. waves to the crowd following his Southern All-Stars win in April 2014.

“I’m more content right now,” Ogle stated. “I don’t feel that pressure I’d been under for so long. I might have left sooner if there were more teams out there to drive for. There just aren’t that many now. But this gives me a chance to take a step back and see where I am.  I realize I’m on the back side of my career. But I feel like I can still go out and win races.”

Ogle did get a chance to drive a second car for Drew Kennedy in the limited late model race at Smoky Mountain Speedway on September 20. Ogle put the car on the pole and led the first several laps. A lapped car came onto the track from the infield as Ogle and the field came through. Ogle spun the car to avoid the lapper and was given his spot back as the leader. Ogle’s car began smoking after the restart and parked it.

“I think the car had a bad rear end bearing or something,” Ogle recalled. “They said they had problems with it the week before. I don’t think it had anything to do with me spinning the car.”

Ogle is working on a deal to drive for Stacy Boles at the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races at Dixie Speedway and Rome Speedway this weekend.

“Stacy came up to me at Smoky Mountain last week and said he wanted to talk to me about driving for him,” Ogle said. “He has a truck business that’s doing real well and he’s not sure if he’ll get to race as much as he has been. He’s talking about putting me in a second car. We just have to work out some details and see where we go. I hope we can work something out. I run really well at Dixie and Rome. And I’d like a chance to drive one of those new Brucebilt Rockets Stacy has.”

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