PETERSEN MEDIA: Making his debut aboard the potent Ballou Motorsports No. 12 entry at Arizona Speedway over the weekend during the Western World Championship, Dave Darland looked as if he had been in the car all year long as he picked up a second place finish during Saturday night’s finale.
“We had a great weekend, and had a lot of fun,” Dave Darland said. “We had a fast car every time I hit the track, and the guys did a great job of making me feel comfortable.
Getting some important track time together during Thursday night’s practice session, Darland and crew checked in for action on Friday night as he timed the Dickinson Farms/Deaton Waterfront Service/Lucas Oil Products machine in 12th fastest in time trials.
Picking up the win in heat race no. 4, Darland would move directly into the feature event where he would take the green flag from the 12th starting position. On the slick Arizona Speedway, Darland would find himself amidst a torrid battle inside the Top-10 before ultimately taking the checkered flag with a ninth place finish.
With one full night under their belts, Darland and Robert Ballou Motorsports got off to a great start during Saturday night’s finale as ‘The People’s Champ’ would earn quick time qualifying honors on this night.
Finishing fourth in his heat race, Darland punched his ticket into the feature event where he would roll off the starting grid from the sixth starting position. Getting off to a great start, Darland would shoot his way up to second and briefly fall to third on the third lap before getting back by Tyler Courtney one lap later before the race’s first stoppage.
The ensuing restart saw the veteran pilot make a big time move to put the Ballou Motorsports entry in the top spot as he began setting a nice pace on another extremely slick Arizona Speedway racing surface.
Getting into traffic just past the race’s halfway point, Darland and Courtney would run wheel to wheel for several laps with Courtney getting the top spot just before the caution flew with 11 markers left in the race.
Giving the leader all he could handle, Darland could not get back by as he closed his first weekend of action in the No. 12 entry with a second place finish.
“”We had a couple of good races and the results were good, but definitely could have been a littler better,” Darland added. “I am really looking forward to the Oval Nationals this weekend and think we will be really good. Thanks to all these guys for their hard work.”
Robert Ballou would like to thank Dickinson Farms, Lucas Oil Products, Abreu Vineyards, Deaton’s Waterfront Service, Rossie Feed and Grain, MPHG Promotion, Unique Breedz, Suburban Subaru, Jamie Davidson Scrap Metal, Twister-X, Hinchman Indy, Don Ott Racing Engines, Manvel Motorsports, Blakesley Auto, Olson Custom Design, Konnected Clothing, Hooker Harness, Indy Race Parts, Hoosier Tire, Schoenfeld Headers, ISC Racers Tape, Chalk Racing Products, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, and Bell Helmets for their support.
ON TAP: Darland will return to the seat of the Ballou Motorsports No. 12 machine this weekend during the Oval Nationals.
2018 BY THE NUMBERS: Starts- 52, Wins- 4, Top 5’s- 24, Top-10’s- 39
STAY CONNECTED: Stay up to speed with ‘The Mad Man’ by following him on Twitter @RoberBallou81, liking https://www.facebook.com/robertballoumotorsports/, or by clicking over to www.balloumotorsports.com.
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