right side Hoosiers and the concrete, taking back the lead as they exited turn two.
A rejuvenated Jon Stanbrough threw his hat in the ring of contenders after slipping past Ballou for 2nd at the flag stand on lap 10. However, Ballou would reload and reclaim the second spot from Stanbrough, the 2002“ Hulman Classic” victor, one lap later and now found Meseraull clearly within sight on his radar.
Ballou and Meseraull engaged in an exhibition of sliders on laps 17 and 18 that put the sizable Wabash Valley crowd on its feet. The two exchanged the lead on three separate occasions in that lap and a half span, as they traded slide jobs at the end of the straightaways at the entrance of turns one and three, culminating with Ballou and Meseraull banging wheels at the exit of four on lap 18 as Mesearull reemerged at the head of the field.
On lap 22, Ballou threw one last jab for good measure, executing a picture-perfect slider on Meseraull for the lead. From that point until the drop of the checkered flag, nobody was game for Ballou’ s presence down the stretch as the Rocklin, California driver ultimately delivered the final knockout blow, pulling away for a 4.422-second margin of victory over Meseraull, Stanbrough, Bacon, Chris Windom( from the 20th starting spot), Chase Stockon, Shane Cottle, Dave Darland, Jerry Coons, Jr. and Justin Grant.
Ballou was able to add another rifle to his growing collection of“ Hulman Classic” hardware after picking up his first series victory in three months in his Ballou Motorsports / MPHG Promotions – Blakesley’ s Auto / Maxim / Ott. He joined Steve Butler( 1987-88) and Levi Jones( 2008-09) as one of just three drivers to win the classic event in consecutive years and also became just the fourth defending USAC National Sprint Car champ to win the race, adding his name to a list that includes Pancho Carter( 1975), Steve Butler( 1987-88) and Levi Jones( 2009)
32 | American Racing News | Dirt
“ SALUTES TO INDY”
Austin Williams drinks the chocolate milk in victory lane after winning last Saturday night ' s " Salute to Indy " at Perris( Cal.) Auto Speedway.( LOUDPEDAL PRODUCTIONS)
AUSTIN WILLIAMS WINS CRA’ S“ SALUTE TO INDY”
Perris, CA …….. Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, Calif. wheeled his John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike / Shaver to victory in Saturday night’ s 30-lap“ Salute to Indy” USAC / CRA AMSOIL Sprint race at Perris Auto Speedway. He led all 30 laps and beat Richard Vander Weerd, Jake Swanson, Mike Spencer and Damion Gardner to the checkered flag.
Backed In | Photo
JOHNSON SWEEPS PEORIA ' S " SALUTE TO INDY " WEEKEND
Peoria, AZ........ Defending USAC Southwest Sprint Car Champion R. J. Johnson completed a " sweep " of this weekend ' s " Salute to Indy " events at Canyon Speedway Park, winning Sunday night ' s 30-lap feature event in the Kodiak Products / Beal ' s Auto Body Sherman / Ford. He Passed Josh