MECHANICSBURG, Pa.: Bill Balog wanted nothing to do with Williams Grove Speedway after his visit All Star Circuit of Champions weekend.
It wasn’t that Balog didn’t like the surface or the tricky track configuration. Plain and simple: He got his head kicked in and was feeling pretty defeated when he left the pit area that night.
So, it was a little bit of a surprise to see Balog in attendance one week later. But then again, the Wisconsin driver isn’t the type to give up.
That’s a good thing. Especially considering Balog’s result, which was running against some of the best in central Pennsylvania and coming out with a very respectable second-place finish.
“I, definitely, feel better than I did before I got here this morning,” said Balog after the 25-lap main event. “We got our butts kicked last weekend … I mean, kicked.
“It’s good to come here and finish second. The track was kind of on our side as far experience, and it was easier to drive tonight. Everything played into our favor, but I’ll take it. I’m not going to lie, if there were only three cars here, I’ll take it.”
Sure, Balog started on the pole, which is a whole lot easier than being buried mid-pack or even starting sixth in dirty air. But he looked like a different driver with a different car for much of the event.
Balog, an eight-time IRA Sprint Series champion, negotiated the tight corners with ease. The car didn’t twitch, and the Midwest invader looked like a seasoned veteran instead of a driver making only his fourth start at the historic facility.
Brock Zearfoss hounded Balog for the better part of 15 laps. Yet, the leader made no mistakes and was in a good spot to record his first win on central Pennsylvania turf until a caution came out on Lap 21.
“Really, it’s a different world from where I’m from,” Balog said. “We had Rob Peters help and a couple of other people … Matt Miller and Zach, some guys around here that know this place better than me. That helped tremendously.
“Last week and the time before that, I was absolutely terrible. I didn’t even want to come back. They have been a great help trying to get the thing straightened out for me, and that’s the main thing.”
Balog is being modest.
Williams Grove Speedway is one of the most difficult tracks in the country to get a hold of as a driver. There are so many nuances to the surface and configuration that it takes some drivers years to adjust.
That wasn’t the case for Balog. Things certainly lined up for success, but he was able hold his own even after he lost the lead … a point in which many drivers would have been rattled and dropped in the running order.
Freddie Rahmer slid past Balog one lap after Zearfoss made the winning pass. Balog gathered himself and pulled the same move on Rahmer on the next circuit and held it the rest of the way.
“These guys are really good,” Balog said. “It’s good to get your butt kicked. I don’t know if it’s good to get it kicked over and over again like last weekend, but it’s good for you.
“I don’t like to give up, which is why I came back this weekend. I didn’t have to come back, but I wanted to try it again. It’s going to help me, but I’m also realistic. There were 17 cars, I started on the front row, and you have to look at that a little bit, too.”
Continued Balog, “But, I’m happy, and we will see what we can do tomorrow at Port Royal Speedway.”
Regardless of the outcome at Port Royal Speedway Saturday, it was a successful trek east. Balog showed he could run wheel-to-wheel with the best in the region, learn, and take a hefty bit of confidence back to the Midwest.
Balog will need it. He plans to run a smattering of shows at Knoxville and the Jackson Motorplex. He will also take on his IRA Sprint brethren and run 15 shows with both the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions.
“All of this is great for me back home,” Balog said. “Just to run against these guys … They are really good.
“It’s good to be able to adapt to other drivers and other racetracks. I’ve never had the opportunity to race against Brock Zearfoss, because he is always a lap in front of me. So, that’s good for you as a driver. It’s good to have that versatility. So, it will help when we get cracked off at home.”