American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 4 | Page 31

TERRE HAUTE, IN……...Robert Ballou slid his way into the record
books Wednesday night, surpassing A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey
on the all-time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car win list with his 24th
career series win and becoming just the third driver in the 46-year
history of the “Tony Hulman Classic” to win in back-to-back years
after out dueling Thomas Meseraull in a torrid race-long battle to
collect the coveted rifle at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.
As the green flag flew at the start of the 30-lap feature, pole-sitter
Meseraull shot out to the front of the pack. But, it was secondquickest qualifier and inside row-three starter Ballou who quickly
charged to the second spot by lap two, setting the stage for an epic
battle between the two for the top spot.
After a pair of cautions slowed the pace with just four laps completed, Meseraull and Ballou rode the cushion, spraying Terre Haute’s
newly-painted red, white, and blue wall with rooster tails through
each of the four turns. On lap nine, Ballou followed Meseraull with a
full head of steam into turn three, jetting to the bottom at the
entrance of three and throwing a massive slider that stuck, giving him
the lead as the two exited turn four.
However, the move was all for naught due to the stoppage of Landon
Simon’s stalled machine at the top of turns three and four, bringing
out the yellow flag.
The yellow did not deter Ballou one iota. As soon as the green
dropped on the ensuing restart, Ballou went to the well once again,
replicating the same move he made on Meseraull just before the
caution fell, diving to the inside guardrail before sliding up to the wall
between turns one and two. But Meseraull didn’t blink, instead,
staying on the throttle with just inches to spare between Ballou’s