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Topic: Balog win was kind of a surprise.
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Page 1 of 1 of 12 replies
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March 08, 2025 at
01:05:00 PM
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If you had asked me to predict last night's WoO winner when the initial green flag dropped, I wouldn't have said Bill Balog. Good job Balog and crew! So far this season, he has passed the most cars to win in any WoO feature race. He's only the 2nd winner not from the front row, and he beat Gravel at the end.
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March 08, 2025 at
01:55:55 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Murphy on March 08 2025 at 01:05:00 PM
If you had asked me to predict last night's WoO winner when the initial green flag dropped, I wouldn't have said Bill Balog. Good job Balog and crew! So far this season, he has passed the most cars to win in any WoO feature race. He's only the 2nd winner not from the front row, and he beat Gravel at the end.
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Good job by Balog. He has had his share of misfortunes so good so see him get a win. Making the dash is key.
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March 08, 2025 at
05:16:50 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Murphy on March 08 2025 at 01:05:00 PM
If you had asked me to predict last night's WoO winner when the initial green flag dropped, I wouldn't have said Bill Balog. Good job Balog and crew! So far this season, he has passed the most cars to win in any WoO feature race. He's only the 2nd winner not from the front row, and he beat Gravel at the end.
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Yeah that was a great win for Balog. I watched the DirtVision Highlights on YouTube. It was only a 5 minute clip but it felt like 1 hour because I was pulling for Balog and I thought for sure that Gravel would eventually pass him.
Congrats to Bill & Dennis and his sponsors !
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March 08, 2025 at
06:41:28 PM
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I've been noticing him running and finishing pretty strong this year and even towards the end of last year.
Good for him, last year at the Kings Royal was a pretty low point for that team.
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March 08, 2025 at
09:34:33 PM
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Don't they usually list him from a different state every race? Whatever state he was listed at last night, I'd keep it.
How did that running joke come along? Only reason I kinda remember this was wondering were North Pole, SC was.
Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's
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March 10, 2025 at
08:19:20 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: BMcLain21 on March 08 2025 at 09:34:33 PM
Don't they usually list him from a different state every race? Whatever state he was listed at last night, I'd keep it.
How did that running joke come along? Only reason I kinda remember this was wondering were North Pole, SC was.
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I've never heard it said differently.
Always from Hartland, WI by way of North Pole, Alaska.
Jeff Wesell
Hartford, WI
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March 10, 2025 at
08:39:13 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Murphy on March 08 2025 at 01:05:00 PM
If you had asked me to predict last night's WoO winner when the initial green flag dropped, I wouldn't have said Bill Balog. Good job Balog and crew! So far this season, he has passed the most cars to win in any WoO feature race. He's only the 2nd winner not from the front row, and he beat Gravel at the end.
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I didn't expect that either. Not sure how similar the layout of the 1/3 mile Talladega short track is when compared to Wilmot Raceway, but the last WoO race I attended at Wilmot back in 2023, Bill was head and shoulders faster than every car there. He would have likely won the race if not for getting into Macedo on a restart. (I think he broke or bent something)
As far as passing the most cars and only the 2nd winner not from the front row: 1. There have only been 8 races. 2. It would be fair to assume the majority of WoO races in the past 30 years have been won from the front row, so this stat doesn't really jump out at me.
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March 10, 2025 at
06:28:25 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: egras on March 10 2025 at 08:39:13 AM
I didn't expect that either. Not sure how similar the layout of the 1/3 mile Talladega short track is when compared to Wilmot Raceway, but the last WoO race I attended at Wilmot back in 2023, Bill was head and shoulders faster than every car there. He would have likely won the race if not for getting into Macedo on a restart. (I think he broke or bent something)
As far as passing the most cars and only the 2nd winner not from the front row: 1. There have only been 8 races. 2. It would be fair to assume the majority of WoO races in the past 30 years have been won from the front row, so this stat doesn't really jump out at me.
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I was kind of poking fun at those who were putting a crown on Gravel after only 8 races. 
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March 11, 2025 at
07:21:49 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Murphy on March 10 2025 at 06:28:25 PM
I was kind of poking fun at those who were putting a crown on Gravel after only 8 races.
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March 25, 2025 at
09:57:37 AM
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Posted By: sprint99 on March 10 2025 at 08:19:20 AM
I've never heard it said differently.
Always from Hartland, WI by way of North Pole, Alaska.
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Bill initially moved to Western, Wisconsin, before moving to the Milwaukee area where things really took off for him. I was at Cedar Lake the first time any of us had met him. He pulled in with an old chassis and some parts but based on my lack of photos it must have been an open practice and I didn't bring a camera. Anyways, I introduced myself and heard the story about him being from Alaska by way of Washington state where he tried a pavement deal.
He was in his twenties and told me he wanted to race for a living. I'm guilty of thinking "sure kid, that's what they all say" but soon learned that he was determined to make that dream come true. Even to this day his is not the team with the biggest bank account and has been stranded at Cotton Bowl for several days trying to get a truck part. Bills bad luck with wrecks and transporter problems aside he will likely excel on short tracks and hit big on an occasional half mile. They are faster this year right out of the gate.
Stan Meissner
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March 25, 2025 at
03:55:59 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: StanM on March 25 2025 at 09:57:37 AM
Bill initially moved to Western, Wisconsin, before moving to the Milwaukee area where things really took off for him. I was at Cedar Lake the first time any of us had met him. He pulled in with an old chassis and some parts but based on my lack of photos it must have been an open practice and I didn't bring a camera. Anyways, I introduced myself and heard the story about him being from Alaska by way of Washington state where he tried a pavement deal.
He was in his twenties and told me he wanted to race for a living. I'm guilty of thinking "sure kid, that's what they all say" but soon learned that he was determined to make that dream come true. Even to this day his is not the team with the biggest bank account and has been stranded at Cotton Bowl for several days trying to get a truck part. Bills bad luck with wrecks and transporter problems aside he will likely excel on short tracks and hit big on an occasional half mile. They are faster this year right out of the gate.
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Love to see the underdogs break in to the win column. Also glad to see he was able to get back on the road last night after getting the rig fixed.
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March 25, 2025 at
04:59:11 PM
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4305
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Reply to:
Posted By: StanM on March 25 2025 at 09:57:37 AM
Bill initially moved to Western, Wisconsin, before moving to the Milwaukee area where things really took off for him. I was at Cedar Lake the first time any of us had met him. He pulled in with an old chassis and some parts but based on my lack of photos it must have been an open practice and I didn't bring a camera. Anyways, I introduced myself and heard the story about him being from Alaska by way of Washington state where he tried a pavement deal.
He was in his twenties and told me he wanted to race for a living. I'm guilty of thinking "sure kid, that's what they all say" but soon learned that he was determined to make that dream come true. Even to this day his is not the team with the biggest bank account and has been stranded at Cotton Bowl for several days trying to get a truck part. Bills bad luck with wrecks and transporter problems aside he will likely excel on short tracks and hit big on an occasional half mile. They are faster this year right out of the gate.
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Yes. Last year they had engine troubles right away, week 1 of the Outlaw season and just seemed to be off the pace for the first half of the season 2024. They finally picked up some speed later as the season went on, and by the time they hit Knoxville, they seemed to be clicking by putting himself into his first ever A-main at the Nats! You are correct-----he is MUCH faster right out of the gate this year!
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March 26, 2025 at
09:51:22 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: armyduke on March 25 2025 at 03:55:59 PM
Love to see the underdogs break in to the win column. Also glad to see he was able to get back on the road last night after getting the rig fixed.
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I quit chasing them about ten years ago and Bill is one of the few I still feel like I have a connection with from those days. Sprint Car drivers are getting younger so I'm doubling down on the ones still driving and locals just getting started. our neighbor Luke Nellis in 410 and 360 and Garrett Tatnell in some limited starts are the two local young guys.
Stan Meissner
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