GAS CITY (Friday) AND TERRE HAUTE (May 20) NEXT FOR SPRINTS;

BALLOU, GRANT STAR IN HISTORIC ELDORA WEEKEND

Robert Ballou of Rocklin, Calif. vaulted into a two-point lead over Chase Stockon in the new AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car standings after winning Friday night’s 30-lap feature at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio and taking fifth in Saturday night’s "Don Branson/Jud Larson Classic" 30-lapper.

The series resumes this Friday at Gas City (Ind.) I-69 Speedway before visiting the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track May 20 for the 45th “Tony Hulman Classic.”

Ballou and his MPHG Promotions/Blakesley’s Auto Maxim/Ott were unbeatable in leading all 30 laps Friday in the first appearance of the AMSOIL National Sprint cars in “doubleheader” conjunction with the World of Outlaws. The two-night event at Eldora was billed the “Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends” and it lived up to its advance billing with spectacular racing.

Jon Stanbrough finished second in Friday’s race ahead of C.J. Leary, Thomas Meseraull and Tracy Hines as Stockon finished 10th.

Saturday’s 30-lapper produced a dramatic finish as Justin Grant of Ione, Calif. caught Leary on the final lap for the victory in his Dick’s Paint & Body/Knupp’s Tire and Muffler DRC/Claxton Chevy. Leary, who continues to seek his first career series win, finished second ahead of Hines, Aaron Farney and Ballou. Leary had paced the first 29 circuits before Grant’s last-lap pass.

Stockon earned ProSource Fast Qualifier awards both nights at the half-mile dirt oval.