I read an article online that had a small sentence about Gary Balough racing dirt in 2009. I used to love watching this guy race and was just wondering if anyone knows anything about this or where he might be racing.
Man I miss that Black 112!
Just curious - where did you read that? I thought he didn’t have a shot at parole until he would be very old.
Thats what I thought too. I could not find the other article but here is one that states he returned to racing in Oct 2000 in Syracuse. http://www.stockcarracing.com/thehistoryof/33021_gary_balough_dirt_driver/index.html I guess he only did four years.
[SIZE=“4”]From the Federal Bureau of Prisons database:
Gary Lee Balough[/SIZE]
Is there two Gary Balough’s that race and have done or doing prison time?
will th real gay Balough please stand up.
The picture in the article is the real Gary Balough. The story seems to match. There must be 2. Heaven forbid. I remember a race at Desoto in the mid to late 80’s when Gary won a 125 lap race hands down. While waiting in line for tech a crew member was seen removing weight and throwing it across the fence behind the tech area. Bob…
[SIZE=“4”]I don’t think so.
I think the one incarcerated (or maybe was incarcerated) in Pensacola is the one and only hot-shoe from South Florida.
According to posts on other boards, he’s been seen all over the place. Who knows how often that database is updated. Since this is only 1-year short of his scheduled release date, he may have gotten out on a early release.
If you check out this site that attempts to track the whereabouts of drivers that are no longer racing: Whatever Happened To? You’ll see that he was supposedly at Hialeah in 2004, but then was alledgedly re-arrested later on a possession charge and sent back to prison. (Scroll down 3/4 of the page)
Again who knows? Maybe someone that knows him personally and knows the facts will check in.[/SIZE]
Great website, thanks Jim.
Its a damn shame to think what might have been but here is what is written,
Dennis 08/09/05
Here is an update that I found off the Federal Prison database. He’s in a minimum security prison in Pennsacola Florida with a scheduled release date of 2010.
Randy Sands 11/15/04
He (Gary) was at Hialeah Speedway last weekend looking at my outlaw modified and talking to my dad. Wish I knew it was gary, would have been great to talk to a racing legend that I grew up watching race around Fla. short tracks…
From 3-Wide 08/01/04
(Todd Lewis emailed me on 8/1/04? that Gary had just recentely been arrested again on drug charges and was expected to be facing jail time as a result of the current troubles combined with his previous arrest. I chose not to post it at the time as I wasn’t sure if it had been confirmed. Unfortunately, Todd was on the mark as the info has been confirmed. What a shame…)
Jim Murrow: 06/29/03:
I don?t know exactly what he?s doing right now, but, he raced down south in the 80s, and got into Winston Cup. Then, he was convicted of drug charges and sent to prison. As Balough tells the story, when the arrest happened, he?d been signed to drive the #28 car for Harry Ranier. Waddell Wilson was the crew chief, and Robert Yates built the motors. - Benny Parsons ended up in it. I guess that was about 1981. Gary had won a national championship with NASCAR?s All-Pro circuit, where he won 14 out of 22 races, but that was after the conviction, and he was awaiting sentencing.
He came to Syracuse in 2000, and didn?t run well. In an interview he gave at the time, he said he had served 45? months in jail, and it had cost him his marriage, and his career in Winston Cup.
He said when he got out of jail, he took his 7-year-old car and went to Summerville, South Carolina, for a 200-lap All-Pro race, sat on the pole, and won the race, and he also said that in 1996 he drove Pee Wee Griffin?s Late Model, and won 67 out of 79 races in it.
I heard he was working with some late model, ARCA, and Busch teams over the last few years, as a consultant, crew chief, or whatever. I imagine he still drives a bit, too.
Jim Murrow: 07/01/03
One other thing I didn’t mention, and probably should have is that, as far as I know, Gary didn’t take any drugs. He was involved with several others in racing, in, as I understand it, importing the stuff. He said he did it to fund his racing.
Damn shame. He was a great talent, at the top of his game, and just about to get his big break.
I have serious doubts that Balough “was seen” at Hialeah in 2004. He would have still been in the pokey at that time.
As for the “re-arrest” on drug charges… that one came AFTER the original charge that he spent something like 7 years for.
The bonehead gets out of prison, starts racing again, gets as far as the Busch Series, and then his brain stopped working again.
The story goes that Balough, after racing at Charlotte that afternoon, goes to a convenience store with a bunch of friends piled into HIS van. One of the guys starts mouthing off, the cops get called, and they want to search the van. Lo and behold… they find Cocaine in the van (not ON Gary, but in his vehichle), which was a direct violation of his probation and terms of his release. BOOM… back in trouble.
There may have even been another instance after this one that got him some more time… but I’m pretty damn sure he wasn’t allowed to be hangin’ at the Speedways in 2004.
Jerry thats his pic on that one web site. The guy on the federal prison web site is 62. I don’t think Garys that old. Its a shame to waste such a talent on drugs. I guess I’ll never understand that stuff. Outa 5 kids I only had 1 that dabbled in drugs. She didn’t get in drugs deep but she drinks like a fish now, I don’t know which is worse. Bob…
Bob the guy on Fed site is THE Gary Balough. The prison he is in is not far from Five Flags Speedway.
Rick look at the picture on the original site on this post. That sure looks like the gary Balough I know.
Thats him he went BACK to prison in late 00 or early 01 (not sure of actual year) for probation violation I believe. Gary is serving his time in Pensacola and is scheduled to be released next year. Jack and I have tried several times to conduct interviews with him in prison to no avail.
Ok that sounds better. Yeah that would be a great interview. I will see you next Wed. I am looking forward to the Reutimann home coming. Bob…
[SIZE=“4”]Hey Bob…don’t-cha know that time flies when you’re having fun?
Balough was born in Ft. Lauderdale on September 16, 1947.
[/SIZE]
Gary “Hot Shoe” Balough @ TNT Custom Racing
Gary “Hot Shoe” Balough is employed by TNT Custom Racing, Inc. in Stow, Ohio and is actively involved in racing, car setup, and driver development coaching with the TNT Custom Racing team. For more information visit his profile page at http://www.tntcustomracing.com/team/gary-balough/
Thank you and we wish everyone the best of luck in racing and appreciate the support of the racing fans!
TNT Custom Racing, Inc.
Nick Fares
Marketing Manager
He was at Speedweeks last week At N.S.S. Been out for about a year.
Gary made an appearance at the Mod Reunion last Friday. He had been in town all week, crew chiefing the 07x of Tom Fares Jr.