Gary Balough

Born: September 17,1947

From: Miami Florida

Bio: Over the course of his driving career, Gary Balough has won in almost everything he was able to get behind the wheel of compiling a winning list of over 1000 races. The “Batmobile” is one of the most famous, or infamous, cars ever in short track racing. Running the car was one of the many stories that Balough was synonymous with. It the late 70’s Balough drove a black car that looked much like it should have been in Gotham City and not on the mile at Syracuse. The legendary car, designed by Kenny Weld, helped Balough win four times on the mile, a record that has only been passed by Brett Hearn.

Accomplishments:

Gary has now teamed up with TNT Custom Racing.

Gary Balough’s Racing Career:

Gary Balough started his racing career in 1964 at Hialeah Speedway building his first race car with the assistance of local racing driver Buddy Griffin. Gary built the motor in high school auto shop with the help of H.C. Wilcox and Gil Hearne doing the machine work. Winning his first race and he continued to win with a total of 36 races and won the point championship with the # 87 hobby car. In 1965 teaming up with Dave Smith of Smithy’s Transmission Center with the #75x Gary won at Hialeah, Palmetto, Palm Beach and Hollywood Speedways. From the first days of racing, everyone in racing knows that you must have good tires and a local Firestone dealer by the name of Bobby Johns who was a NASCAR and Indy Car driver helped Gary with tires in more ways than you can imagine.

Gary knew what he wanted a car to do and he knew from very early in his career how to make it work, weather to change the springs, shocks, tires, sway bar or whatever, he could do it. There are very few drivers who can do this. Late in the summer of 1965, Gary moved-up to the late model modified division when car owner John Merindino took a chance giving him a ride and this relationship lasted, off and on, for many years. Gary won many races with the 84 and showed a lot of promise to a lot of people. Three years later, driving the 237 owned by Marty Handshaw, Gary won the Florida State Championship Race at Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa, Florida in November, 1968. They went on to win many short track races at Hialeah, West Palm Beach, New Smyrna, Fort Pierce, Orlando, Melbourne, St. Pete, Old Hollywood, New Hollywood and many other speedways in Florida. They also won the World Series of Stock Racing at New Smyrna in 1970 in the #237.

In 1971 Gary hooked up with a Miami business man George Barber owner of Miami Gum Vending and they bought a Bobby Allison chassis, the car was built and owned by Wimpy Viele of Davie, Florida. They then decided to hook up with Al and Kenny Kuhn to build their own chassis design leaf spring car, a car Gary went on to have a lot of success with. Gary Balough and Joe Baglier closed their body shop in Hollywood, FL. and moved to Ft. Pierce, FL. with Gene Johnson & Sons Racing to race professionally for a living. Tom Pistone Racing sent Gary to Greensburg, PA. as a consultant to set up a Pistone built car for Jim Kell. It was dirt car which Jim ran at western PA dirt tracks. Jim asked Gary to try the car out at Schmuckers Speedway where he proceeded to drive the car to near victory in a 100 lapper, his first dirt race. George Mellinger a local business man and owner of Paul Fess and Roger Watts Cars, took an interest in Gary with his talent and knowledge of race cars. Paul Fess vacating the seat of #89, Gary then started driving the car for George Mellinger with success winning races at Schmuckers, Jennerstown, Motordrome, Bedford, North Hills and other western PA race tracks. Gary also drove the #44 for Bob May that Jimmy Bickerstaff drove for years. Gary raced for Bob at Heidelberg, Sharon, Winchester, Midvale and Columbus and other asphalt tracks in the tri-state area.

George Mellinger, seeing the success that Gary had with the Bob May #44 car, approached Gary about building an asphalt car for the following season. Gary returned to South Florida to drive for John Mereindino #84 while building the Allison chassis car for Mellinger. Gary and his crew of Paul Jennings and Joe Baglier raced the car without the results they were looking and decided to instead run the car on dirt. Gary and crew won a lot of races on the dirt track in western PA. Race drivers from Florida who were racing the dirt modifieds in the Northeast such as Pee Wee Griffin, Rags Carter, Bobby Malzahn, Jackie Evans and Spud Murphy and others had picked-up how good Gary was doing on dirt. In a very short period of time Spud Murphy got in touch with Gary with an opportunity to drive for Rich Egge and Paul Hildebrand owners of the New Jersey based #9 open-wheeled modified. Without much success early Gary almost threw the towel in and then he and Whip Mulligan got together to finish the Mulligan built car a few months later. On the second start for the car Gary won a 100 lapper at Nazareth Speedway and went on to win at just about every race in New York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Over the next few years that Gary was racing up north on dirt, George “Whip” Mulligan played a major part in Gary’s career and needless to say they became great friends.

That winter Gary continued his relationship with Marty Handshaw and #237 winning in the Florida area tracks. Paul Hildebrand and Rich Ege then decided that their business was suffering due to the time spent on the racing efforts. Later that winter Gary was contacted by Anthony Ferraioulo of A. Ferraioulo and Sons Racing. Tony and his brother Ronnie flew to South Florida to meet with Gary and told Gary that he would buy the (#9) if he would stay and be his driver. Gary knowing that the quality and knowledge of the race team and in having the chance of staying in the Mulligan build car that he had great success in the past season was a win win situation. The rest was history as Gary and the A. Ferraioulo Race Team went on to win wherever they raced. They set track records and then broke their own records. They were the Northeast Dream Team without question. Gary went on to win at Syracuse with this car (1976) and later went on to win 2 more with the A. Ferraioulo Race Team. During the time with Ferraioulo, Gary also drove for Forre Race Team, the Bettenhouser build Sprint Car at Middletown, NY. this was the Harry Benjamin back up URC Sprint Car ride with Gary winning several times in the car. Gary was then offered a deal with George Smith of Statewide Highway Safety with a Kenny Weld build car with the assumption that this would benefit his racing career with NASCAR. Gary had some success in the South Jersey Race Tracks, however it did not seem to work out quite as well as was expected.

Gary was then offered the opportunity to return to A. Ferraioulo Race Team driving a Grant King build car, he jumped at the opportunity. Gary was happy to be back with family. Needless to say they continued to set more track record and went on to win the prestige Syracuse Race with the Grant King build car, not once but twice 1977 and 1978 to give Gary and the A. Ferraioulo race team 3 consecutive wins in the Northeast Dirt Modified biggest race. Driving a limited schedule with the 73 car, Gary teamed up with Richard Marrinelli with the M1 car and raced at OCFS (Middletown, NY) on Saturday nights and at Nazareth, PA. on Sunday night. Gary won with the car on a limited budget with the M1 and lost the point championship by 6 points at Middletown when he broke a rear axle on the last of the season. The M1 Team did not have the budget that other big teams had, however, they made up with it by putting in 110% and then some to give Gary a winning combination. Gary also ran at the old Trenton Speedway in the Bob Johnson asphalt modified #17 car.

Later that summer, Gary went to the race of champions at Pocono Speedway and reunited with his old racing hero Bruce Griffin. Bruce asked Gary about driving for his team. Gary went to Miami, FL to see Bruce’s race team and then was flown to Ashville, NC to be seated in a Banjo Matthews NASCAR Cup Car. Gary accepted the ride working with Griffin Motorsports. They raced Bemco built late model cars throughout Florida, along with tire testing for Goodyear and Hoosier. Winning races for Bruce Griffin, Gary then decided to take the opportunity with Performer Racing managed by Billie Harvey with the cars driven by Bob Castro and Billy Elswick. Gary’s responsibility was as a driving coach and crew chief. From this Gary got his first ride at Daytona in a Tom Pistone Performer Racing Mario Rossi built Camaro. Leading late in the race, the team struggled with clutch problems. Billie Harvey started his late model and ARCA career with Gary as a driving coach and crew chief. Billie also gave Gary the opportunity to drive for Fast Lane LTD with Hanley built late model cars, along with Grant King dirt modified cars, Maynard Troyer built modified asphalt cars and Tom Pistone built Winston Cup cars. 1979 was Gary’s first ride at Daytona Speedway in the Cup Series with this car with big help from long time friend Pete Hamilton as a driving coach and more. Gary won major races in the Hanley late model car along with victories in the Troyer car at the World Series of Racing in New Smyrna Speedway.

In 1980 in the World Series of Stock Racing in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Gary broke his neck after winning 5 in a row at the speedway, shortly before this Gary had signed a contract with Kenny Weld and Joe Booth for the construction of the infamous #112 Batmobile to be built for Syracuse. The question was will Gary ever drive again after breaking his neck. With professional help from Dr. Virgin of the Miami Dolphins, Gary’s rehabilitation was greatly improved and he was back racing and winning later that summer.

Kenny Weld was car builder, the crew chief and Tim Light the aerodynamics engineer of one of the greatest dream teams ever in racing.

Here is the list of names for “The Dream Team”.

In October, 1980 they brought the Kenny Weld Prime Time 112 Batmobile to Syracuse, New York where they completely dominated the entire field.

Kenny Weld had promised Gary that he would build a car for him that he could drive at 75% and lap the field, guess what he was right and then some, Kenny Weld kept his promise with the 112.

Billie Harvey helped Gary to start Prime Time Racing with his own race team.Gary competed with several different car builders including John Anderson Dramie, Hanley, Glen Boop and Ray Dillion of Prime Time Race Cars. Steve Peterson who worked for Ray Dillion was the engineer of the first carbon fiber tub interior car which Gary won both of his All-American 400′s in, along with his Snowball Derby (1986), World Crown 300 (1986) and 1986 All Pro Championship victories. A great opportunity for Gary came about with the Miami Based Winston Cup race team of Bob Rahilly and Butch Mock of Rahmock Racing asked Gary to be their driver. Gary’s first race was at Pocono where he finished 17th. He followed that with a 5th at Atlanta in the Atlanta Journal 500 and an 11th place finish at Daytona. Gary also drove their Busch car to a 4th place finish at Daytona and a victory at the Miller High Lite 300 at Charlotte Speedway. Gary had an offer to drive the number 28 Winston Cup car owned by Harry Rainer and prepared by Waddell Wilson. Unfortunately Gary’s Winston Cup career was halted due to legal problems.

Gary went back to racing in the All Pro Series, setting records for the most poles, most laps led and all time race winner winning the National All Pro Championship in 1986. During this time Gary also drove the Barry Wright owned dirt late model car, winning races and setting track records. Gary took this dirt car to Hialeah Speedway (asphalt track) which was an open show and set a track record with an astonishing 13.75 in a star-studded field and then proceeded to lap the entire field. Driving in both series the All Pro and the NDRA (Barry Wright’s car) was becoming very difficult and Gary wanted to win the championship in the All Pro Series with his own team (Prime Time Racing), so he decided to give up the dirt car and concentrate on the asphalt car. This worked well as Gary won the 1986 National All-Pro Championship. During this same period Frankie Grill-Neil Bonnet Racing cars took a interest in Danny Sikes driving ability (Gary’s Protégé) and decided to build a car with the help of Prime Time Racing for the Kiss Series with the All-Pro Series for Danny. Setting several track records and winning at Jackson, Pensacola, Nashville, and several other tracks, Danny missed winning the Kiss Series National Championship by only a few points due to a commitment to Prime Time Racing as a spotter for Gary at an ASA Race at Michigan Speedway. This car was sponsored by Conrad Nelson of Houston, TX , United Racing Engines of Miami owned by Chuck Cici and Michael Ferreri. Due to legal problems Gary was out of racing for about 4 years. In 1990 Gary became a crew chief for Chuck Johnson Racing with Chuck winning races in South Florida. Gary then moved family and Prime Time Racing to Mooresville, NC to resume his racing career, this move was not only a way for Gary to be closer to NASSCAR but it also helped to regain Prime Time Racing crew members John Abbott and Michael Toemmes along with other key crew members. The crew and Gary’s racing knowledge provided him with a number of wins over the next two years.In the early 90′s Gary drove the Ken Allen Winston Cup car and James Finch Busch car (#82). Gary contacted a good friend, Don Gibbs that was given the 1986 Dillion Championship car by Gary for Don’s son Mickey Gibbs to race and won in great fashion. In their conversation Don told Gary if you want the car and if you think you can win with it, come get it. Gary did and he won with the car in the All-Pro race in South Carolina in his first race back. Gary’s winning ways continued in the Big 10 racing series at Concord, NC and the Super 8 Series at New Smyrna Speedway. Gary had impressed Bob Clark of Bob Clark Motorsports who decided to offer Gary a ride in his car. Gary tallied up several wins with the #31 car.

During this time, Gary met David Clore and David put together a financial arrangement between Prime Time Racing and Clore Motorsports to race the #12 car, the same car Gary had won the 1986 Championship with, now racing as the #50. Gary won the first race ever run under the lights at Richmond International Speedway in a NASCAR All Pro race. Tom Pistone introduced Gary to Jimmy Rosenblum of Linro Racing out of New York who then offered Gary a ride in his Winston Cup car (#13). Jimmy then bought the famous Whitney car from an auction, this was the same car that Rusty Wallace had won the Winston Cup Championship with Raymond Beatle Racing. Crew help came from Keith Dortan with motors, Eddie Labretone tuning, Fred Wanke,Harold Fagan (Frog) and Ray Stonkas who create magic with the chassis and aero setups. Ray Stonkas was Gary’s long time crew chief and car builder. Sponsorship from Gene Eisenhower of Terminal Trucking. A special thanks to Bob Rahilly, Butch Mock and Prime Time Racing for all their efforts to make this happen. During this same time Gene Eisenhower of Terminal Trucking also sponsored Gary’s protégé Danny Sikes with a Tommy Holzhouser Prime Time speedway sportsman car for Charlotte Motor Speedway with a Hutcherson-Pagan (Harold “Frog” Fagan) built race car. James Finch of Phoenix Racing also sponsor the car with a Gary Stanton built motor. Even with an impeccable number of wins Prime Time Racing struggled financially.

James Finch talked to Gary several times about moving to Panama City and running his race teams. Gary finally accepted the offer. Moving to Panama City with family, Gary proceeded to organize the operation of Phoenix Racing along with Danny Sikes and Johnny Allen. Jeff Puris was the driver and with Gary as crew chief of the Phoenix race team they proceeded to win races at Nashville, Daytona, Michigan, Atlanta and several other tracks in the ARCA Series and All Pro Series.

For more history and career highlights visit BaloughRacing.com