Billy VanMeter has been racing with a chip on his shoulder.
In winning for the first time in a Super Late Model on Wednesday night in the UARA race at Owosso Speedway in Michigan, the son of short track veteran Eddie VanMeter can now call himself a winner at one of the highest levels in the disciplines.
And he earned it too, taking the lead from Evan Shotko with 40 to go in the Loves Travel Stops 150, but then also had to fend off Blake Rowe on the final restart. Rowe took the lead when VanMeter and Shotko connected but couldn’t hold it.
VanMeter could not be denied.
“Honestly, it’s a weight off my shoulders more than anything,” said VanMeter. “I’ve been trying to prove this whole time I can do it. Weirdly enough, I did it here, in a car that was just supposed to run laps to redeem myself from the Owosso race in the Super. It all worked out, somehow I fought my way to a win.
“I’m happy that I got it. I’m happy that my dad and I got a trophy, and I’m happy Butch [VanDoorn] can’t say that I’m a loser anymore.”
The younger VanMeter has been pushed by his support system and he has started show significant improvement this summer.
VanMeter ran up front all race and first challenged for the lead on Lap 38 after a caution involving Erik Jones and Steve Dorer. He dived under Shotko, lost his nose, and fell back to fifth.
Undeterred, he drove back through the top-5, took the lead and would not be denied after every challenge including the one of the restart in which Shotko got into him.
“Honestly, it was just a lot of close racing,” said VanMeter. “I think he thought he had more of a run, being a Super to a Pro, so I think he tried to close the door and I was there. I saved that thing and kept on digging, you know what I mean?”
And Rowe didn’t make it easy to get the lead back, especially on these American Racer tires that are pretty forgiving and just do not fall off.
“I was clear-ish, so I went up and got crossed over, then I got crossed up, then I re-crossed the 71 and we fought it out until I cleared him,” VanMeter said. “When I cleared him, they were telling me clear by one, clear by two, clear by three. I just kept going.”
VanMeter, Rowe, Austin Hull and Dylan Stovall completed a 1-2-3-4 sweep for VanDoorn Racing Development chassis.
“I hate second place, I really do,” Rowe said. “I hate finishing second here at Owosso more than anything, because this is home. I’ve got to say I’m really proud of the VanDoorn group for bringing this thing home 1-2-3-4. I’m really proud of Billy for the growth he’s had. He and Butch have worked really hard for the past few years, and I had a blast racing with him.”
For their part, Hull and Stovall were the show late in the race, trading the positions back and forth.
“My crew chief made an awesome call at the break,” Hull said. “Got us some good tires with a little bit more turn. Man, that’s a tough race out here. There are a lot of great cars out here. I think Dylan Stovall and I showed them how it’s done, all the crossovers and beating doors and keeping it straight all the way to the end.”
Stovall echoed that sentiment.
“I can’t thank the VanDoorns enough,” Stovall said. “I think me and the 20 put on the best show of the night; that’s how it’s done.”
UARA Loves Travel Stops 150
Owosso Speedway
Owosso, Michigan
- Billy VanMeter
- Blake Rowe
- Austin Hull
- Dylan Stovall
- Michael Atwell
- Evan Shotko
- Nick Neri
- Michael Simko
- Clarity Patton
- Chase Burda
- Steve Dorer
- Kyle Crump
- Erik Jones
- Lane Head
- Kendrick Kreyer
