Billy Boat captured the first IRL pole at Las Vegas in 1997 and won initial IRL
race in 1998 at Texas. Won five straight IRL poles in 1998. Set a USAC record
by winning 11 consecutive midget features in 1995. Also won Belleville
Nationals same season.
Boat was tabbed as Scott Sharp's injury replacement at the 1997 Indianapolis
500 for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, and it was clear from the beginning that he would
make some noise in the IRL. Boat finished seventh at Indy, one lap down. In just
his second race, he appeared to win the True Value 500K at Texas Motor
Speedway, but was demoted to second after a postrace review determined Arie
Luyendyk really won. From there, wins were elusive, but strong finishes at
Charlotte (2nd) and New Hampshire (8th) and a pole position at Las Vegas
solidified Boat as a top IRL contender.
Boat began racing motorcycles as a 5-year-old. He won his first national
championship on a motorcycle and began racing sprint karts at age 8. From
1980-82 he won 14 of 16 races in modified midgets. He drove in the American
Racing Series in 1986, with three top fives in 10 races.
Billy Boat's career highlights include breaking all USAC records for consecutive
single-series victories with 11 straight in the Western States midget series in
1995. He finished the season with 18 victories in 27 starts. His streak ended at
Madera (Calif.) when he finished second to Davey Hamilton. He had his best
finish of third at Sacramento in four USAC Silver Crown races and finished 11th
in points. He was also the 1994 and 1996 Western States midget series
runner-up, and has five National Midget wins to his credit.
Boat was the only driver bumped from the starting field in 1996 at the
Indianapolis 500. He was injured in a crash on the final day of time trials testing
a car he hoped to qualify if he did get bumped. He got bumped 18 minutes after
his accident by Joe Gosek.
Sources: Star/News and SpeedNet staff reports.
