2007 Billy Ballew Bio

BILLY BALLEW MOTORSPORTS

Formed in 1996, Billy Ballew Motorsports, with the help of fellow Georgians, Tony and Mark Gibson, competed in their first race together at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for an Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event. From there, the local Georgia businessman decided to organize a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. Ballew’s hands-on management approach, along with his enthusiasm and dedication, is what helped him bring together this talented and competitive team.

"I have always been a race fan of all series," said Billy Ballew. "I knew I wanted to be a team owner after I started sponsoring a Hav-A-Tampa dirt car in Atlanta. My dream grew and I was given an opportunity to purchase two ARCA cars. After racing a limited ARCA schedule, I decided to expand to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series."

Billy Ballew Motorsports started competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2002 and has had a variety of drivers over the years. The team has fielded competitive entries for many well known NASCAR drivers including Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Bill Lester, Jeremy Mayfield, Geoffrey Bodine, Rich Bickle, Joe Ruttman, Bobby Gill, John Andretti, Martin Truex Jr., Andy Houston and a host of others. But it was Shane Hmiel who piloted the No. 15 Chevrolet for the 2004 season that brought Billy Ballew his first win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the team’s 100th start in the in the Craftsman Truck Series.

The 2005 season started off with a pole at Daytona International Speedway, followed by three victories with Kyle Busch at the helm. The Billy Ballew Motorsports team finished a career-best fifth in the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Owners’ Points; an amazing feat considering the season was completed by eight different drivers during the year.

The 2006 Season brought drivers Kyle Krisolff, Kevin Grub, Jeremy Mayfield and Kyle Busch to the No. 15 Craftsman Truck. Kyle Busch, who piloted the No. 51 Billy Ballew entry in four events, gave the team its only win of the season at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. In addition to the one win, the team posted three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.
Billy Ballew Motorsports entered two NCTS teams in 18 of the 25, 2007 series season events with 12 different drivers piloting the trucks.  It was Busch though who posted two wins (Atlanta II, Phoenix) and a close second after a green/white/checkered finish at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in the No. 51 Craftsman Truck.

Billy Ballew Motorsports will take to the track in February to begin the teams 12th year competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In 2008, for the first time Billy Ballew Motorsports will be running a full season with two NCTS teams.
  
The No. 51 Toyota Tundra will be piloted by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Kyle Busch who will run the majority of the companion races in 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season including the season opener February 15 at the Daytona International Speedway.  Busch will be joined by another NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series driver, David Stremme who will pilot the No. 51 in several events.  Another driver will be announced later for the events that are possible conflicts with both Busch and Stremme’s schedules.  The second Ballew entry will be the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado driven by ARCA RE/MAX Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Marc Mitchell.

Billy Ballew Motorsports has made 128 consecutive starts with a total of 205 starts in the series with seven victories in the NCTS (Shane Hmiel 2004 (1), 6 – Kyle Busch 2005 (2), 2006 (1), 2007 (2)) and has earned two poles (Kerry Earnhardt, Daytona 2005, Kyle Busch, Lowe's 2005).

Billy Ballew's commitment to success is evident in his pursuit of his life-long dream; to own a competitive NASCAR team that possesses the ability to run upfront on a consistent basis.  Ballew resides in the Atlanta area and has one son, Preston, age 10.