Haubstadt, IN – June 21, 2014 – Robert Ballou won the 25 lap Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car feature Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway.
The win came with a $2,000 winner’s check and a trophy which represented Ballou’s first win at this quarter mile oval. However it was not his first MSCS win. He has nine of those and ranks third on the series All Time Winner’s List.
Ballou was finally in victory lane at Tri-State Speedway. “This is awesome! I first began racing here in 2007 and it has been a struggle to win here. It is just one of those deals. It is good to finally get the monkey off my back and get that first win of the year. Now we just need to keep this thing going!” The winning car was powered by an engine built by Don Ott. Sponsors for Ballou Motorsports include Maxim, Indy Race Parts, Hinchman, and Deaton Waterfront Services.
Ballou was very fast in an all out drive in which he pulled the field at run-away speeds indicative of the track’s promotion for the race as the Southern Indiana Sprint Car Stampede. Ballou led throughout the event with Jeff Bland, Brady Short, and Kyle Cummins, in turn, becoming his closest pursuer. Ballou had some breathing room at the front as Brady Short battled to get by Jeff Bland Jr. for second place. As Short obtained the runner-up spot he began to close in on the leader. However the yellow flag displayed on lap 21 was for Short. He was forced to retire to the pits with a damaged car.
MSCS Points leader Kyle Cummins had an unexpected opportunity. He was now second and at the restart there would only be four laps remaining. Despite the increased effort Cummins would finish second.
“I couldn’t go any faster on top those last two laps.” Jeff Bland Jr. was next across the line. “I was lucky to finish third. I can’t complain. We just need to keep being consistent with top three finishes which is what I want.”
Rounding out the top five were Daron Clayton and Brandon Mattox. The two were race ready and set to be reckoned with. Clayton popped a wheelie in pursuit on the front stretch and Mattox turned in his second top five feature finish in as many tries.
Bradley Sterrett was sixth after a run back up through the pack following a spin on lap six. Brian Karraker, Donny Brackett, Hud Cone, and Chet Williams earned the next four top ten spots. Shane Cockrum was 11th and thus picked up the Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award.
He started at the back of the 21 car field. The progress that followed also earned him the Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard Charger of the Race Award.
The three prelimnary heat races were won by Dakota Jackson, Jeff Bland Jr., and Robert Ballou. Brady Short and Daron Clayton earned the most passing points in the heat races. Both drivers raced up through the field to finish second in 10 quick laps after starting at the tail. There were only a couple of caution periods in the heat races. But there were four yellows in the main event.
MSCS will return to Tri-State Speedway on Saturday June 28th for another $2,000 to win show. There will be a triple header that night with the POWRi Midgets and Micro Sprints also contributing to the open wheel action. Racing begins at 7:30.
Provided as News and Information for MSCS.
RACE SUMMARY
“Southern Indiana Sprint Stampede”
Tri-State Speedway
Haubstadt, IN
June 21, 2014
Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series:
First Heat – 3 Dakota Jackson, 11P Brady Short, 38 Chet Willians, 66 Shane Cockrum, 90 Bradley Sterrett, 21 Carson Short, 11 James Lyerla
Second Heat- 04 Jeff Bland Jr., 23 Brian Karraker, 28 Brandon Mattox, 4B Donny Brackett, 4C Daylan Chambers, 20 Steve Thomas, 27 Brian Wallace
Third Heat – 12 Robert Ballou, 3R Daron Clayton, 3C Kyle Cummins, 5kx Kent Schmidt, 5K Jordan Kinser, 9T Hud Cone, 10 Aric Gentry
Feature (25 Laps) – 12 Robert Ballou, 3c Kyle Cummins, 04 Jeff Bland Jr., 3R Daron Clayton, 28 Brandon Mattox, 90 Bradley Sterrett, 23 Brian Karraker, 4B Donny Brackett, 9T Hud Cone, 38 Chet Williams, 66 Shane Cockrum, 5K Jordan Kinser, 11 James Lyerla, 20 Steve Thomas, 27 Brian Wallace, 3 Dakota Jackson, 11P Brady Short, 21 Carson Short, 5kx Kent Schmidt, 4C Daylan Chambers, 10 Aric Gentry
Casey’s General Stores Midwest Open Wheel Association Sprints:
Heat Winners – Jerrod Hull and Joey Moughan
Dash Winner – A.J. Bruns
Feature (25 Laps) – Jerrod Hull, Kody Kinser, Cale Thomas, Tiffany Wyzard, Jeremy Standridge, Korey Weyant, Trey Datweiler, Chris Babcock, Logan Faucon, Kent Schmidt, John Dines, Vinny Ward, Joey Moughan, Randy Myers, Caleb Wankel, Trent Beckinger, A J Bruns, Critter Malone, Paul Nienhiser, Jordan Kinser, Chris Urish