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Photo by Pit Pass Photos
Ballou wins 4-Crown Nationals sprint car feature
By Gary Thomas
Rossburg, Ohio - September 24, 2007...Robert Ballou came into Eldora Speedway’s 4-Crown Nationals on the heels of five straight wingless 410 sprint car victories and was poised to continue his hot pace at the site of his first career USAC win, which came back in late April at the Ohio speed-plant. The Rocklin, Calif native didn’t disappoint as he wheeled the MPHG Promotions, Gardemeyer/Finish/Carpentry, Circle Racing Wheels No. 81 to a dominating performance to pick up his second career USAC National Sprint Car win and first ever at the 4-Crown Nationals.
After qualifying 10th in the 48 car field of wingless 410 warriors, Robert brought home a second place finish in the heat race to give himself an A-main starting birth. Lining up 10th in the 30 lap feature, the Rocklin Rocket had a bevy of talented wingless veterans in front of him, but that didn’t faze him as he cowboy’d up and drove forward.
Robert worked his way forward quickly and had already moved up to sixth by lap three and was coming with a full head of steam towards the front. After dispatching off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for fifth, the 18 year-old came after Dave Darland and Brady Short and made the pass of both drivers to put the Bell Helmets, BSA, THR & Sons No. 81 into the third position by the time a caution came out on lap seven. The next restart saw another caution appear, and then on the next one Robert made his move.
As the green lights came back on, the top two cars battled it out in the first set of corners until Robert drove by both of them to take the lead. After snapping up the lead Robert checked out from the field just like he did in April and by lap 18 was out front by more than seven seconds. The only worry late in the race was when Robert tried to slide a lap car and tagged the wall in turn four. This created damage to the rear end and tire which gave an intense vibration to the No. 81 machine. Despite the issues Robert hung on and drove to victory for the second time this season at Eldora.
"I can’t say enough about this team," Robert said following the race. "Jimmy Jones and the gang have been giving me some great cars and this success we’ve had recently is just awesome. I was a little worried after I caught wall though, because it made the thing vibrate like an NHRA dragster (when they get into tire shake), but I was able to keep it under control and here we are with another win at Eldora. I also want to thank all of our sponsors who support us and give us the opportunity to win races. Now we’ll hopefully continue the success at the big races out west coming."
The USAC National Sprint Car tour will now take a month off before heading out west to finish up the season. On November 1, 2 and 3 the series will take to the Perris Auto Speedway for the 12th annual Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply. This will be Robert’s second time competing in the prestigious event and will look to put the MPHG Promotions, Circle Racing Wheels No. 81 into the A-main on Saturday night for the first time. Following the Oval Nationals Robert and the team will head to Manzanita to put a wrap on the ‘07 USAC National season with the Western World Championships.
For all your info and news on 18 year-old Robert Ballou visit http://www.balloumotorsports.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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