Ballard continues success, honors late supporter

CEDAR RAPIDS - This one was for Butch.

Nathan Ballard took the track without one of his faithful fans in the stands. Butch Healey, the grandfather of Ballard's girlfriend Stephanie Healey, died a little more than a month ago after never missing one of Ballard's races.

Ballard honored Healey, dedicating his season-opening hobby stock feature win to the longtime supporter during a cold and windy caution-filled opening night of season points races at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

“He came to every race,” said Ballard, 20, of Marengo. “Even on dirt and asphalt.”

Ballard said it “bums him out” not having Butch in attendance. He got behind the wheel with a heavy heart last night.

“I'm thinking about him,” Ballard said. “He helped me through this race.”

Ballard started in the third spot and trailed Roland Bohnsack most of the race after Bohnsack took the lead from Matt Petrzelka on the first lap after two early cautions.

Ballard remained patient and made his move, taking the lead for good with three laps to go.

“The track was a little greasy there,” Ballard said after the race. “I was over driving the car. I had to tell myself ‘Slow down and she'll go faster' and that's what I did.”

Butch watched Ballard win a lot in the past, and Ballard continued the success that watched him captured a season points title in his first full season racing hobby stocks on asphalt in 2009. He won six features last season.

“It went pretty good,” Ballard said of his championship season a year ago. “I had a couple bad races in there, but it all worked out at the end of the season.”

The transition from dirt was slow at the start, but he had an ace up his sleeve in his father, Tom Ballard, who helped set up the car.

“He knew what he was doing,” said Ballard, noting the setup is more important than a big motor. “It took us about six weeks to tune it in. After that, we got her set up pretty good.”

Ballard sports a bumper sticker that reads “On the gas, kicking (butt)”. He got it at Newton Speedway and it describes him well.

“I got that figuring it would be a good one for the back of the car,” Ballard said. “I like to give it all I got all the time.”

Ballard isn't ready to slow down, and he took the first step in extending last season's success.

“I want to win as many races as I did last year,” Ballard said. “Get another championship.”

Jim Hanson, who will race in two classes this season, claimed his first stock car feature win. He held off Bob Ahrendson for the win.

“It was a good race,” said Hanson, who also races a Hornet car. “I appreciate Bob for racing me the way he did.”

Hanson looked poised to claim to feature wins, going from third to first in the first lap of the Hornet race. Brad Chandler, looking for his first points championship, spoiled that by taking the leading with 12 laps remaining and pulled away from the rest of the 26-car field to win. Hanson was second.

“I can't believe I'm here, honestly,” Chandler said in victory lane. “I thought Jimmy would have had it. His car has been running so good all year. We've been racing dirt and wrecking our cars ahead of the season.”

Aric Becker claimed the first Sportmod feature, making a nice move early on the outside and winning easily.

“I pushed it as hard as I could and held my line,” Becker said. “I'm glad to start it off with a win.”

Late rain canceled the modified, sportsman and late model features.