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Track record highlights Vegas weekend for Robert Ballou
By Gary Thomas
Las Vegas, NV - March 14, 2007...Rocklin, CA native Robert Ballou took to the wicked fast Las Vegas Motor Speedway ½ mile dirt oval this past Thursday and Friday to begin his first full season behind the wheel of a wingless sprint car. Robert still has limited starts in a wingless sprinter and the Las Vegas weekend was a good learning experience for the 17-year-old gasser.
39 USAC/CRA non-wing 410 sprint cars took to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on Thursday night and Robert began the weekend by turning a solid lap in qualifying. The "Rocklin Rocket" guided the MPHG Promotions, Ballou Motorsports, Gardemeyer, Finish, Carpentry No. 81 around the ½ mile in 17.817 seconds, which placed him 12th overall.
Robert was then ready for heat race action and in the heat he found a nice groove and drove away from the field to pick up the win aboard the Gliko Hardware & Construction, Circle Racing Wheels, Swimming Pools Perfections Maxim.
For the 30 lap A-main Robert found himself starting on the pole and led the field into turn one. Going down the back stretch veteran Ricky Gaunt was able to get under Robert to take the lead, and then a lap later the big white infield tires reared their ugly head as Robert clipped one of them and spun to a stop. He was officially scored with a 20th place finish to put an end to the night.
Robert and the team came back on Friday looking to rebound and the night started off on a high note as Jimmy Jones had the THR & Sons, Schlage, A.R.T. Speed Equipment No. 81 on a rail in qualifying. The "Rocklin Rocket" cut a fastest lap of 17.036 to re-set the track record from the previous day and earn fast time out of the 39 cars that signed in.
USAC uses a larger invert in the heat races than other organizations do and Robert was unable to earn a transfer in his heat race, which put him in the B-main. The semi on this night was extremely packed with talent up and down the line-up and Robert held his own to finish second and earn a transfer into the 30 lap feature.
Robert lined up ninth in the feature and track conditions were very difficult as it had become a single file affair. Robert ended the race with an 18th place finish to put an end to the Vegas weekend.
The next planned event on Robert’s schedule is March 31 at the historic Eldora Speedway which opens the season for the USAC National Sprint Car Series. For more info on Robert Ballou visit http://www.balloumotorsports.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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