Stacy Boles
Stacy Boles and his race team came into the 2015 season with quite a few questions that needed to be answered. They were expanding to a two-car effort with Billy Ogle, Jr. joining their camp, which meant the workload would be increased. So far, the owner/driver has been pleased with how well things have progressed.
Boles currently pilots a new Longhorn Chassis while Ogle drives one of the Rocket Chassis cars the team used last year, but that may be about to change. As a matter of fact, Ogle could be in Boles’ Longhorn this weekend for the World of Outlaws Late Models event at Smoky Mountain since Boles will be out of town and unable to race. The team will have a second Longhorn ready soon.
“Things have gone really well, especially at Tazewell,” Boles declared in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “Billy got the $10,000-to-win WoO race up here. We’ve got our new Longhorn going and we’re finally starting to get it ironed out. We’re qualifying good and starting to run better. We’re going to have Billy’s together in a couple of weeks so we’re anxious to see how that turns out.”
In last Saturday’s Spring Nationals race at Tazewell Speedway, both drivers qualified within the top-4 and made the dash race. Boles won that preliminary and earned the pole for the feature while Ogle started alongside.
Boles led the first ten laps in the Ray Cook-promoted main event before falling out due to mechanical issues while Ogle went on to collect the $6,000 first prize.
Boles and Ogle racing side-by-side at Tazewell.
With the two drivers running different car brands, there have been some challenges. But their differing driving styles have offered positive effects, even with multiple chassis types.
“They’re similar enough, I guess you could say,” Boles said of the chassis. “Billy’s driving style and mine are a little different so when it comes to feeding off one another I just kind of listen to what he says his car is doing based on how he drives and he does the same with me. Some places he’s better and some places I’m better so it works both ways.”
Obviously, there has been more work involved in preparing two cars instead of just one. But the addition of extra help has made the workload bearable.
“It has been a lot of work,” Boles admitted. “We hired Russell Owens to come on with us and he’s made a big difference. I’ve now got two crew members and that makes it a lot better for us. We’ve got some volunteer help and myself, of course. It’s not been as bad as I thought it might be.
“I guess the toughest part is having two different chassis and you have to carry parts for both cars when it comes to nose pieces and a lot of body parts that are different,” he added. “When we get everything uniformed in one direction, I think it will even be a little easier.”
Billy Ogle, Jr. after a win last season.
But no matter what the circumstances may be in terms of chassis brands or otherwise, Boles believes his team has a distinct advantage when touring series come into the area.
“When it comes to east Tennessee and the racetracks here, Billy’s been around the tracks so many times that he’s a threat to win anytime he pulls in,” the owner declared. “As long as we can put good equipment under him, I feel like he’s got as good a chance as they do to win here in east Tennessee.”
