HOLIDAY EDITION 2024 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | 13
Third generation racer chooses a different track
BY PENNYLYNN WEBB
Dirt track racing began in the 1920s and 1930 ’ s , and has become a popular motorsport that attracts fans and drivers from all over the world . Billy Meazell III , of Pert , is a third generation racer who has been racing since 2003 . He has run everything from local factory teams and street stocks to Lonestar 600s .
Meazell said he grew up working on cars with his family and it ’ s all he ever wanted to do . Racing and being a social media and internet personality has become his full time job . He currently has 180,000 followers on Facebook .
While his father and grandfather both raced Nascar , Meazell said he enjoys dirt track racing more . His current race car is a souped up station wagon .
“ It don ’ t look like your grandma ’ s car ,” Meazell said . “ Everything I ’ ve done to it is for the racing . I have manipulated everything I can to make it go faster .”
This is not the first racing station wagon for Meazell and his racing crew family .
Meazell said he helped his cousin create an Area 51 themed station wagon race car that sported green lights on the undercarriage .
“ It was pretty cool ,” he said . “ I like different and the station wagon was different .”
Meazell said dirt track racing is a family affair . His pit crew is filled with family and friends , however he considers his brother , who also races , and his father to be his most trusted advisors .
Meazell said he loves racing because it ’ s a good outlet for your mind .
“ When I ’ m racing , the only thing I ’ m thinking about is racing ,” he said . “ I don ’ t have the worries of the world on me . It ’ s just me and the car .”
He said it ’ s also about the adrenaline , excitement and competitiveness . According to Meazell , racing is not cheap . “ It ’ s an expensive hobby ,” he said . “ Five gallons of racing gas is $ 75 .”
He said he and his brother purchased a 55 gallon drum of race gas for $ 500 and used every bit of it for two cars on the first day of a two day event .
Meazell said he tries to stay budget friendly as much as possible , but you have to have the right stuff on your cars to be competitive . He said you also have to research and stay abreast of the newest trends and ways to make your car faster . In dirt track racing , racers drive at speeds of 70 and 80 mph . “ That doesn ’ t sound fast unless you stand on the side of the road and let somebody drive by you ,” he said .
Meazell said they drive a lot slower at the track in Canton , Texas because the track is smaller , but he enjoys races there because they are fun .
“ I like going there because it ’ s a fun track to drive on , so it ’ s not always about speed ,” he said . “ I like having fun , and if it ’ s a place that I don ’ t have fun at , then I don ’ t go to it again .”
The race season starts in March and ends in Corpus Christi in
December . Meazell said he plans to run a couple of races at the South Texas Race Ranch race track before the year is up .
Meazell said a movie he recommends
that truly depicts real racing is “ Last American Hero ” starring a young Jeff Bridges , Gary Busey and Ned Beatty . He said the movie is loosely based on the life of Robert Glenn Johnson , Jr ., better known as Junior Johnston , an American professional stock car
COURTESY PHOTO driver , engineer and team owner .
“ It feels more real ,” he said . “ Days of Thunder is pretty overrated , real Hollywood . They are shifting [ gears ] and I ’ m like , ‘ you don ’ t shift [ gears ].’ It ’ s a good movie , but it ’ s just a movie . Also , the cars don ’ t get that dirty on asphalt .” You can watch Meazell in his own soon-to-be-released documentary .
He raced in the 100 lapper in the Alexandra Speedway in Australia this year and a “ Billy Down Under ” documentary is being made about his trip . Meazell said the documentary is set to premier on raceon . com this winter .
With only four months until the 2025 season of dirt track in Texas kicks off again , Meazell said he is looking forward to The Solo 275 at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway March 21-22 .
You can also catch races at Buffalo Creek Speedway in Canton ; the 105 Motor Speedway in Cleveland , Texas ; the RPM Speedway in Crandall , Texas ; and the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood , Louisiana .
Meazell said the race community is very family-friendly and a lot of adult fans bring their kids to the races .
Racer Billy Meazell III poses in Australia with the car he raced . A documentary titled “ Billy Down Under ” was made about his trip , it will air this winter .
HOLIDAY EDITION 2024 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | 13