Bill Lester in the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Bowen Family Homes Chevrolet Silverado fell victim to uncontrollable circumstances this past Friday in the running of the American Commercial Lines 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Rain dampened the track Friday morning, canceling the first practice for the trucks.  By midday the weather cleared allowing for a 45 minute practice before qualifying for the 130-lap race.  Lester posted the 13th fastest time in the final practice session and qualified in the 13th position after posting a time of 30.961 seconds at a speed of 179.064 miles an hour.  Satisfied with the handling during the abbreviated practice and during qualifying, the team was optimistic for the race.

But by the NASCAR competition yellow on lap-27, Lester had radioed his team that the truck was loose getting into the corner.  Lester came down pit road for four tires and track bar adjustments hoping to tighten up the truck. Just ten laps later, Lester noted that he was still loose on entry and through the center of the corner forcing him to go a lap-down to the leader.  The third of nine total caution periods came just after Lester went a lap-down giving him the Lucky Dog free pass putting him on the tail end of the lead lap.  During the caution Lester also noted his oil pressure and water gauges were running high. When he pitted for fresh tires the team discovered a tear off on his grill that was blocking the air and causing the truck to run hot. (more…)

Long-time spotter for Billy Ballew Motorsports, Frank Bolter is credited for the Billy Ballew introduction to Buddy Lazier.  Frank Bolter has been spotting in auto racing from IRL, NEXTEL Cup, ARCA and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a well known spotter in the racing industry.  Bolter had spotted for Buddy Lazier’s teammate at the Indy 500 in 2004, then for Lazier in 2005.  After Bolter came back from the Brickyard race, Bolter told team owner Ballew that Lazier was interested in getting into a NASCAR Craftsman Truck.  Ballew immediately invited Lazier to the 2005 Charlotte test where Lazier took his first laps in Chevrolet Silverado NASCAR Craftsman Truck.  Ironically, that test would be the first time that Kyle Busch drove one of the team’s trucks.  Busch had so much fun he asked Ballew if he could race the truck sometime and the rest is history.

Lazier has four previous Las Vegas Motor Speedway starts on the previously configured 1.5-mile tri-oval.   His best start at the speedway is fourth in 1996 and a best finish of third in 2000.  Billy Ballew Motorsports has five previous Craftsman Truck Series starts with the team’s first NASCAR Series victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2004. (more…)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team owner Billy Ballew and driver Bill Lester don’t have far to travel for this weekend’s American Commercial Lines 200 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both Lester and Ballew are residents of the Atlanta area and always enjoy the benefits of racing in front of their hometown supporters.

Ballew is no stranger to the Atlanta Motor Speedway; not only does Ballew have one prior victory at the 1.54-mile race track with Kyle Busch piloting the No.15 Silverado in 2005, but he also competed in his first race as a team owner in 1996 for an Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event. (more…)

With anticipation, Billy Ballew Motorsports headed to the Martinsville Speedway with two NASCAR Craftsman Trucks entered in the Kroger 250 at the .546-mile race track in Virginia.  Bill Lester, the team’s primary driver, was in the No. 15 Red Top Auto Auction truck and Paul Menard, the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series regular, piloted the No. 51 Moen Faucets/Pittsburgh Paints Chevrolet Silverado as part of a joint venture with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

Lester qualified his Silverado in the 19th place position, running 20.126 seconds at a speed of 94.087 miles per hour.  Unfortunately, Lester’s engine expired on lap 37, placing him in the garage early with a 36th place finish.  Lester’s weekend teammate, Menard, qualified in the 15th place position on the grid with a time of 20.097 seconds and a speed of 94.223-miles per hour.  Menard ran 148 of the 250 laps when a crank shaft broke on the No. 51 placing him to the 33rd position in the race. (more…)