BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Questions and worry swirled in Invoice Balog’s thoughts as he sat the other way up in his dash automobile.
He’d simply flipped whereas operating fourth at Volusia Speedway Park’s DIRTcar Nationals. Ache burned in his proper ankle. He feared the worst. However like most racers, his ideas have been solely on the following race.
“Once I was within the automobile sort of the other way up, I used to be making an attempt to suppose if I may run the throttle pedal with my left foot on the following race as a result of I believed my foot acquired ripped off, truthfully,” Balog defined. “Or I questioned, ‘Who am I going to rent to drive this factor?’”
World of Outlaws NOS Vitality Drink Dash Automotive officers rigorously eliminated Balog from the No. 17b, and the “North Pole Nightmare” headed to the hospital. He anticipated his foot to be damaged on the very least, however excellent news got here from the physician. Tissue harm and swelling was the extent of the accidents.
“They did all of the x-rays, and it wasn’t damaged,” Balog stated. “It seemed like a softball, and it’s nonetheless huge. I imply, I’m strolling round effective on it and dealing. It’s just a bit bit sore.”
It was a fast, constructive flip of occasions for the Hartland, Wis., resident. From pondering his foot was gone to studying there have been no breaks. Luckily for Balog, the one break was within the World of Outlaws calendar following the evening of his crash. Three weeks off have allowed him sufficient time to relaxation and heal. Now, the season is about to renew, and Balog is able to roll.
The Biggest Present on Dust heads again to Volusia for the Bike Week JamboreeMarch 2-3.
Earlier than his flip, the Balog and his group had ample motive for encouragement.
Balog certified second quickest in his flight in the course of the first full factors evening of the season. That led to a warmth win and a private greatest Volusia results of sixth within the characteristic. The next night, he timed in seventh quickest earlier than securing one other prime 10 in the primary occasion. Saturday’s finale seemed as if it could be the spotlight of his week. Regardless of drawing the final capsule for qualifying, Balog certified second within the flight. He received his warmth with an exciting last-lap go and completed third within the sprint to line him up on row two of the characteristic. Then the crash ended a possible prime 5.
“I really feel like we realized loads final yr on the observe evening, mainly the whole lot to not do,” Balog stated. “We mainly simply rolled that setup into this new automobile with what we realized at Volusia, and it was actually good. The automobile that we began with was a brand-new Triple X, and it scaled out very nice. Every thing measured actually good. We had some confidence that method.”
The main focus is totally again on Florida this week. 4-wheel and two-wheel worlds will collide because the nation’s greatest dash automobile drivers invade Bike Week at Volusia, kicking off a stretch of 17 consecutive weeks of racing for the World of Outlaws.
Balog had the window to heal. Now it’s time to hit the street once more.
“I’m actually wanting ahead to it,” Balog stated. “I really feel assured with what we’re doing with the automobile, undoubtedly getting in the correct course, and we need to carry that on to the opposite tracks.”
