Mike Looney and Billy Martin, “The Little Team That Could”, shocked the racing world with their phenomenal triumph in Sunday’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway. For the two veterans, it is the pinnacle highlight of their racing lives.
The victory was one for the little guys, one that read like a Hollywood script. They come to the track with an open trailer, bringing a proverbial knife to a gunfight. However, it was the heart, the passion, the motivation that drove “The Little Team That Could” into victory lane in Late Model Stock Car racing’s biggest and most prestigious event.
“I’m probably dreaming,” Looney said after the race. “We’ll wake up, get out of bed, come to this track and try it. I think I’m awake though.”
Mike Looney has traditionally not had the best of luck in his racing career. He has been a factor in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 before but has never been able to bring home the grandfather clock. When he teamed up with Billy Martin in 2014, his luck began to change.
“Our luck got turned around with Billy Martin Racing,” Looney said. “He’s such a good man, good Christian. I believe his good karma has soaked into this team. We’ve surrounded ourselves with good people. He’s got me good equipment and we’re getting good results.”
Looney began racing with Billy Martin at Franklin County Speedway in 2014 – a track Martin himself had a lot of success at during his racing career. Looney didn’t have the best luck at first, but eventually went on to win four races at the Callaway, Virginia bullring. That was followed up in 2016 with two victories at Motor Mile Speedway.
“I feel so blessed,” Looney stated. “I couldn’t, the Lord has given me more than any man deserves in my position. I’m so thankful for it.”
Billy Martin has attempted to race in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, but neither he nor his car had ever made the field – that was until Saturday, when Looney locked himself into the race by setting the fast lap in qualifying. That effort was backed up with the victory, a victory that became the most iconic moment for Martin’s racing career.
“I owe it all to him,” Martin said. “The biggest race I ever had was when I won a dirt track championship in North Carolina. This tops it a million times over. It’s just awesome.”
While Martin owes his success to Looney, the Late Model veteran says it was a total team effort.
“All I’ve got to bring to the table is experience,” Looney responded. “He brings equipment, all the money and I guess it’s a team. Without one, there wouldn’t be the other. We wouldn’t be standing here.”
With Martinsville in his rear view mirror and a brand new grandfather clock in his living room, Looney is now looking forward to taking his car, “Blue”, to the track a few more times this year.
“All our racecars have been girls up to this point, this one’s a boy,” Looney remarked. “We call it Blue. It’s got a blue chassis. That’s a bad machine and I’m looking forward to going to Myrtle Beach and some more races. I hate for racing season to be over when we’re on a roll.”
As Looney went on to win the race, he was cheered on by the crowd of thousands, and by almost every man and woman on pit road. It was a win for the little guys, the guys with passion, “The Little Team That Could”.
