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LAWRENCEBURG NATIONALS MSCS WIN TO BALLOU
by Eldon Butcher
Lawrenceburg, IN - October 6. Robert Ballou of Camby, IN, struck MSCS pay dirt with a big $10,000 victory Saturday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway in the 2nd annual Lawrenceburg Nationals for MSCS non wing sprint cars. Ballou collected his second MSCS feature win in as many weekends. Seventy-one contenders made up the field which set a new series record car count for a MSCS event.
Ballou led from the 21st lap of the scheduled 50 lap event. Pole sitter Brady Bacon was the early leader. Bacon slipped to third before dropping completely out of the event on lap 43. Bacon’s “Kasey Kahne Racing” teammate Kevin Swindell moved into contention and closed in on Ballou looking for an opening to present itself. Racing room was at a premium with the middle of the track providing the better surface but little room to pass due to wet conditions both high and low.
The MPHG Motorsports Maxim Sprinter Ballou drove is owned by Dallas Mulvaney and wrenched by crew chief Jimmy Jones. In victory lane Ballou was quick to acknowledge their involvement as well as that of sponsors THR & Sons, BCI Circle Wheels, Rod End Supply, and Pro. Ballou was happy to see the checkers fly! Close competition and engine concerns occupied his thoughts the last couple of laps. Ballou was the last of the three top finishers to be interviewed. He addressed the crowd. “I hope we put on a good enough show for you!” The feature was perhaps the best race of the night.
Ballou and Swindell led Dave Darland, Casey Shuman, and A.J. Anderson at the finish. Shane Cottle was moving up late in the race to lead the second five which also included Dakoda Armstrong, Kyle Wissmiller, Jeff Bland Jr., and Kevin Thomas Jr. Half of the 24 car field was still around at the finish. Derek Franks turned a track provisional into the race’s Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award by finishing eleventh. He also earned the Keizer-MSCS Hard Charger of the Race after starting last. Lapped traffic never became a problem due to timely yellow flags that appeared as leaders began to be confronted with cars at the tail of the field.
The six twelve car, twelve lap heat races held transferred two top finishers into the feature lineup. The winners of those events were Brady Bacon, Jeff Bland Jr., Dakoda Armstrong, Kyle Wissmiller, Robert Ballou, and Dave Darland. The fields for the C-mains were reduced greatly by incidents during those heat races. In all 10 drivers were unable to answer the call. Action on and off the track provided a Saturday nights worth of thrills and chills.
A sprint car driven by Danny Williams Jr. flipped into, over, and through the catch fencing off turn 4 landing outside the track not far from the main grandstands. In the very next heat Todd Kimmel took a wild ride down the front stretch.
Daron Clayton and Cole Whitt won the two C-Mains to lead an uphill struggle that would take them into B-mains stacked with determined drivers with one last chance to make the feature. Kent Christian won the first B-Main and A.J. Anderson won the second B-Main.
A presentation was also made following the race to acknowledge the new 2007 MSCS Champion Kyle Cummins of Princeton, IN. Cummins edged 3 time MSCS Champion Alex Shanks to pick up his first title. The twenty year old driver runs a Maxim powered by a Cummins Racing Engine. Shocks are by AFCO. The car owner and crew chief is his father Mark Cummins. Sponsors include Trusses by Hobgood, Cummins Racing Engines, Tim Mason Remax, and PRC.
The event at Lawrenceburg Speedway was the finale for the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series for the 2007 season.
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