by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — “Tar Heel” Tom Williams is picking up right where he left off from last year, a season which saw the North Carolina businessman win all three Billings point categories.

On Sunday evening, May 2, at Balmoral Park, Williams romped to victory with Frontier General, turning back five others en route to a five length triumph in a time of 1:58. Peter “The President” Gerry was second best with Somuchcooleronline while Kelly “Sky” Walker took home the show dough with Dimitri One.

Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Frontier General, owned by his trainer Brett Wilfong, paid $3.60 for win.

In what was mistakenly promoted as a trot the race at Balmoral Park in fact was actually a pacing event.

“It all goes as part of our new Billings look,” noted Series president Peter Gerry, who chased Williams’ pacer home at Balmoral Park. “If you will take notice, our name has changed to the C.K.G. Billings Driving Championship Series and though we always will race trotters when we can there are times at some of our venues where a race for trotters may not be able to fill so we have, and will continue to, offer pacing races for our members on occasion.”

The Balmoral Park contest, like the initial Billings 2010 event at Pompano Park on April 23, was a wild card event.

“Also new to the series this year is the fact that the drivers have to declare what region their points can be attributed to, unlike previous years where wild card points were good in both the Midwest and Eastern Regions,” Gerry added.

The next Billings Series contest will be for Eastern Region members at The Meadowlands on Sunday, May 9. Midwestern Region members will convene at Hoosier Park on Sunday, May 16.