I just sent a text to Robert Ballou asking if he had received any offers for a ride since he posted on the various websites that he is looking. He STILL has nothing at this point.

Robert Ballou is a proven winner. Here are the facts (from www.openwheeltimes.com):

Race Year: 2006
Date Speedway Sanction/Class Heat Name Car#/Owner Place
08/15/2006 Nebraska Raceway Park - $4000 to win SprintBandits / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 12 / Unknown 1


>> Race Year: 2007
Date Speedway Sanction/Class Heat Name Car#/Owner Place
04/28/2007 Eldora Speedway USAC / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/16/2007 Creek County Speedway - $4000 to win SprintBandits / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/17/2007 New Lakeside Speedway (1/2d) SprintBandits / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/18/2007 New Lakeside Speedway - $10,000 to win Ron Shuman Classic SprintBandits / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/26/2007 Kokomo Speedway Local/NonSanctioned / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
09/14/2007 Bloomington Speedway Local/NonSanctioned / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
09/22/2007 Eldora Speedway - $6000 to win Four Crown Nationals USAC / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
09/29/2007 Florence Speedway - $3000 to win MSCS / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
10/06/2007 Lawrenceburg Speedway - $10,000 to win MSCS / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1


>> Race Year: 2008
Date Speedway Sanction/Class Heat Name Car#/Owner Place
05/04/2008 Terre Haute Action Track - $3000 to win MSCS / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
06/27/2008 Paducah International Raceway - $2000 to win MSCS / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/01/2008 Paducah International Raceway - $2000 to win MSCS / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/11/2008 Lucas Oil Speedway - $4000 to win SprintBandits / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
08/16/2008 New Lakeside Speedway (1/2d) $10,000 to win Ron Shuman Classic SprintBandits / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1
10/04/2008 Lawrenceburg Speedway - $10,000 to win MSCS / 410nw A Feature Robert Ballou 81 / Mulvaney 1



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In the past 26 months, Ballou has won 16 non wing sprint car events, with all but two being high profile events. Take out two un-sanctioned wins at Bloomington and Kokomo, and he has 14 wins with prize money totaling $76,000, including four victories of $10,000 to win. That means when he wins, the average payout is just under $5500. So, when all the money is on the line, Robert Ballou steps up his game AND WINS more often then not. And he can't find a ride?

Unbelievable. Someone needs to step up and give him something to drive.

DM

I agree this guy needs a ride. Hes a proven winner. Competitive where ever he goes

This is beside the point but I thought the 4 crown at eldora paid 25,000 to win?

Car owners are missing the boat on this deal. Kid is the real deal!!! Seen him show his stuff many times.

Man! He has $76k in wins. Now, add the money they won for second on back and you kind of wonder why the team folded? They probably won close to $100k. I know they travel a lot and that is probably a big part of it. I just don't understand the finances of the larger teams, I guess.

I wish people would understand the economics of racing. The only guy on a winning team who makes money is the driver. They get 40% to 50% of the winnings, the team gets the rest. Cars , motors, tires, haulers, etc. That $38,000 doesn't go very far at all.Two or three months at most on a winning team.

This is not an indictment in any, way, shape, or form of any race team. I am simply making a point that Robert Ballou is a proven winner, and lobbying for someone to put him in a car. That you appear to make it out to be something other than that is due to an inability to discern plainly written English. Reading is fundamental.

DM

Could you point out to me just one part of racephoto1's post that attacked you or misconstrued what you said in any way? I can't find a thing in that post that would prompt any kind of a negative response on your behalf, let alone one as condescending as the one you wrote.

racephoto1 appeared to be responding to cecil98's post, which wondered aloud why the Mulvaney/Plew team is done for the year despite its success in big-money races. All the guy did was state the truth: That after paying your driver his cut and throwing money at the rest of the many issues, there's not a lot, if any, left over.

Maybe you are the one who has trouble discerning plainly written English.

<yawn>

DM

There is not a reason to argue who can read/write the English language. The truth of the matter is that Robert deserves to be driving during the west coast swing and his stats prove this.

Robert I hope you get your chance..... you definitely deserve it!

Jason Watt

WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT. That was the whole point of the thread. I've heard from at least one car owner willing to help out. Let's hope this worked...

DM