Billy Decker & Mike Payne Racing Proved To Be Rock Solid In 2017
Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – LIVERPOOL, NY – This past racing season was solid year for Billy Decker and the Mike Payne Racing team. Don’t believe it? Just ask him.
After a 2016 racing campaign that saw the duo finish fourth in Super DIRTcar Series points with just one tour win (the season opener at Fulton) and one victory at their Saturday night home, the Canandaigua Motorsports Park (now Land Of Legends Raceway), the team worked hard during the winter to improve their program and came out in April guns blazing.
Decker once again showed he was a force at the Fulton Speedway when he visited this season, taking the High Bank Holdup, the Super DIRTcar Series opener, yet again, in April and finishing the season with his fourth career triumph in the $20,000-to-win Outlaw 200.
He also captured three additional DIRTcar Series wins along the way. Those came at Outlaw Speedway in June, the famed Eldora Speedway in July and at Brockville’s Northeast Fall Nationals in October.
“We definitely had a good, solid year,” Decker said. “We had some races that we underachieved in, but there were some races that were just great for us and are a testament to this team.”
Billy was fast to give credit for the success of the #91 this season to his team.
I can’t thank Mike and Jacquie Payne enough for the opportunity to drive these cars. I also have to thank Zach (Payne) for the hard work in the shop and I have to thank this crew. Jeremy, Ray, Harold, Donnie, Freddie, Johnny, Chris, Zoelle and Heather and everyone else on this team. The whole effort was solid.”
The Page Trucking #91 was in the thick of the Series point battle all the way to the final race of the 2017 season, the World Finals in Charlotte. In the end, they missed out to champion Matt Sheppard by just 71 points.
A highlight along the way for the Sidney, NY veteran was his victory at the tour stop in Rossburg, OH at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. It was a race that has gotten away from Decker in the past, and one he desperately wanted to win.
“It was pretty cool to win at Eldora,” he said. “I can remember a few years ago I was running up front there and a lap car got in the way and basically cost us the race. (Tim) Fuller won that night. That’s been a thorn in my side ever since and getting the victory there this year was a big win for me.”
Not only did the team have success on the tour, but Billy and the team were able to take the track championship at their Friday night home, the Brewerton Speedway. On the strength of four wins, 11 top 5’s and 14 top 10’s in 15 starts, Decker out distanced Jimmy Phelps, Larry Wight and the rest of the stacked field to grab the title.
“We couldn’t have had this good of a year without the great sponsors that are on these cars,” Decker said. “Page Trucking, Honeoye Auto Parts, Textron Off-Road, Exit 40, Page Material Management, Bicknell Race Cars, Integra Racing Shocks, Craig Decker Forestry Products and all our product sponsors. Their support is very much appreciated.”
Looking back on 2017, it’s easy to say that Billy Decker and Mike Payne gelled quite nicely as a team in their second year together. Coming just short of the ultimate goal, the Super DIRTcar Series title, they proved they had fast cars and solid equipment each and every time they hit the track.
This off-season means time to retool and reload the guns as they aim for more wins and championships in 2018, but don’t be surprised if you see the “Franklin Flyer” hoisting the 68-pound trophy at the Holiday Inn Liverpool next November as the 2018 DIRTcar Series Champion.
