SLOW START, DECENT FINISH TO WILLIAMS' WEEKEND
Georgia Driver Gets Things Rolling at Race Time

Cecil, GA (October 20, 2007) - Savannah, Georgia's Dusty Williams capped off a weekend marked primarily by struggle and inconsistency with a good run during the race and a solid 13th place finish at South Georgia Motorsports Park on Saturday night. The race - number four of five in the USAR Pro Cup Championship Series - was a 250 lap affair at the .5-mile asphalt oval near Valdosta, Georgia. Williams was forced to take a 35th place provisional starting spot to make the field but he was able to spend the next 250 laps wheeling his number 40 Dixie Excavating/Dustcom Limited Ford Fusion to a respectable finish and the 26th place in points with just one race remaining in the Championship Series.

From the drop of the green flag in practice at SGMP, Williams struggled to find a consistent line. Despite the best efforts of crew chief Petey Hinson and the rest of the team, nothing seemed to be able to help Williams get a grip on the sweeping half-mile facility. As a result, the Dixie Racing number 40 was listed way down on the practice timesheet and the weekend's prospects were not looking good. Qualifying was no better, with Williams and his black Fusion turning in a time more than a half-second slower than the pole sitter. When the dust settled at the end of time trials, Williams took a provisional starting position, meaning he would begin the night's 250-lapper from the 35th of 36 starting spots.

"I'm not sure what was going on," Williams explained. "I was having a hard time concentrating, and as a result I really messed up practice and qualifying. I was all over the track for most of the weekend. To be honest, I was really just glad to make the race as bad off as I was."

When the green flag waved, however, a different Dusty Williams was behind the wheel. It still took him a few laps to find his line, but the longer runs of the race were just what Williams needed to get his Dustcom Limited-sponsored machine moving in the right direction. After making a few early passes, the race's first caution flag came out on lap 11. At this time the leaders pitted, moving Williams up into the top 15. It was during the next run that Williams showed was his car was capable of, moving into the top ten and staying smooth and consistent as he passed one car after another.

Much of this run was spent in the top eight, and when the race's 4th caution came out on lap 126 Williams was running in the 5th position. The yellow at lap 126 was just the opportunity the Dixie team needed to service their number 40 Ford. Williams moved down pit road and the Dixie crew sprung into action, ripping off one of the finest stops of the year and sending their driver out for the race's second half.

"I think we had a decent car most of the weekend, but I finally got things going during the race. That must have gotten the crew pretty pumped because they made one of the fastest stops we've ever made. I couldn't believe how fast they got it done."

After the late stop, Williams was mired back in race traffic but continued to show good signs. After moving back into the top-15 again, the Dixie machine began to lose a little bit of forward bite. Williams continued to work the traffic and his race car through the late race cautions without incident, finally settling in the 13th position when the checkered flag waved after 250 laps. The driver came away with mixed feelings from the weekend.

"The race itself was really good. I think we got the car right and the crew was amazing. The weekend as a whole was a mixed bag, though. I feel like I put us behind the curve for most of practice and qualifying. All in all, it was a good step for us. Another decent finish and a chance to really end the season on a strong note."

The season's end will come soon as the USAR Pro Cup Championship Series wraps things up at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida, on Saturday, November 3. Look for a strong showing from Dusty Williams and the entire Dixie Racing team.

For more information on the USAR Pro Cup Series, check out: www.usarprocup.com.
For more information on Dusty Williams and his team, Dixie Racing, check out: www.dixieracing.com & www.dustywilliams.com.

Related Links:
News Archive
Latest Photos