TUCSON, Ariz. — Story by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Rich Forman photo —
We know Robert Ballou has had a dream season in the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series.
But just how good has it really been?
For starters, last night’s win was his 13th feature victory of the season, tying him with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star J.J. Yeley for the second-best season (by number of wins) in series history and putting him just a single triumph behind USAC sprint car king Tom Bigelow for the most-prolific season ever. Bigelow won 14 National Sprint Car features during the 1977 season.
The win also moves him into a four-way tie for 21st on the all-time series wins list, along with Rickey Hood, Bubby Jones and Sam Sessions, in just the USAC National Sprint Car Series’ second-ever visit to USA Raceway. The series’ only other prior race there, on Feb. 21, 2010, was won by Levi Jones.
His win at USA Raceway on Thursday night was the ninth state he has won a USAC National Sprint Car main event in this season, an all-time series record that he set earlier in the year. The old record of seven was set by Jones in 2010. Of note, the only state that the series has competed in where Ballou has not won a race is the Cornhusker State, Nebraska.
Ballou’s rumble from 14th to the win marked the furthest back any USAC National Sprint Car race winner has come from during the entire 2015 season. That garnered him Hard Charger honors in addition to the race win, the second time he has accomplished that feat this year.
Ballou is also the only driver in the series all season to parlay the Hard Charger Award, which he has won five times in total this year, into a race win.
Ballou stretched his series points lead to 76 markers, the largest lead he has enjoyed since Aug. 27 (94 points). He has now led 213 laps on the season as well, best among all drivers and 80 more than second-place Brady Bacon in that category.
Yes. He’s been that good.
Ballou has been a statistician’s dream on the 2015 campaign, and the Rocklin, Calif. native — nicknamed “The Madman” — will go for his record-tying 14th win of 2015 on Friday night during night two of the Western World Championships at USA Raceway.
For more information on Robert Ballou, follow him on Twitter @robertballou81 or visit his website at www.balloumotorsports.com.
USAC series statistical information was provided by Richie Murray.
RECAP: USAC National and CRA Sprint Car Series; Western World Championships; USA Raceway; Nov. 19, 2015
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Robert Ballou, 2. Brady Bacon, 3. Bryan Clauson, 4. Thomas Meseraull, 5. Damion Gardner, 6. Dave Darland, 7. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 8. Ryan Bernal, 9. Richard Vander Weerd, 10. C.J. Leary, 11. Tracy Hines, 12. Josh Hodges, 13. Danny Faria, Jr., 14. Brody Roa, 15. R.J. Johnson, 16. Matt Rossi, 17. Aaron Farney, 18. Jon Stanbrough, 19. Jake Swanson, 20. Cody Williams, 21. Mike Spencer, 22. Jerry Coons, Jr., 23. Chase Stockon, 24. Chris Windom. NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Gardner, Laps 3-24 Coons, Laps 25-30 Ballou.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 21-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
Follow RCO on Twitter: @RaceChaserNews
