Bobby Ball (racing driver)

Bobby Ball
Born	Robert Kay Ball[1]; August 26, 1925; Phoenix, Arizona
Died	February 27, 1954 (aged 28); Phoenix, Arizona
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1951–1952
Teams	Schroeder, Stevens
Entries	2
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	2
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1951 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1952 Indianapolis 500

Robert Kay Ball (August 26, 1925 – February 27, 1954) was an American racecar driver.[2]

Early life

Ball's parents divorced when he was a year old. He was raised by his grandmother, who enrolled him in a military academy as a teenager in an attempt to take his mind off cars and motorcycles.[2]

Racing career

Ball began racing with the Arizona Roadster Association, subsequently switching from roadsters to midgets. He won the Arizona State Midget Association (ASMA) championship in 1949 and 1950. He finished fifth in the 1951 Indianapolis 500 and 32nd in the 1952 Indianapolis 500.[2]

Ball won the AAA Championship race at San Jose in November 1952.[3] On January 4, 1953, he was involved in an accident at Carrell Speedway in Los Angeles which left him with terrible head injuries. He remained in a coma, first at the UCLA Medical Center and then at home in Phoenix, but died 14 months later of an infection.[2] For many years one of the two championship races held at Phoenix International Raceway was a memorial race dedicated to Ball.

Complete AAA Championship Car results

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Pos	Points
1950	INDY	MIL	LAN	SPR	MIL	PIK	SYR	DET	SPR	SAC	PHX 15	BAY 12	DAR DNQ			49th	15
1951	INDY 5	MIL DNQ	LAN	DAR	SPR	MIL	DUQ	DUQ	PIK	SYR	DET	DNC 5	SJS 11	PHX 15	BAY 13	13th	620
1952	INDY 32	MIL 11	RAL DNQ	SPR 15	MIL 10	DET 9	DUQ 6	PIK	SYR 3	DNC 3	SJS 1	PHX 3				8th	820

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Retired
1951	52	29	134.098	9	5	200	Running
1952	55	17	134.725	23	32	34	Gear case
Totals						234

Starts	2
Poles	0
Front Row	0
Wins	0
Top 5	1
Top 10	1
Retired	1

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	WDC	Points
1951	Blakely Oil	Schroeder	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 5	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP	19th	2
1952	Ansted Rotary	Stevens	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 32	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA	NC	0

References

U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Gates, Bob (March 2, 2010). "Bobby Ball Could Have Been One Of America's Greats". Turn 3 Media. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
"Ball Wins 100 Mile Race, James Is Hurt Seriously". The Fresno Bee. 3 November 1952. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

Bobby Ball at Find a Grave

Records
Preceded by Andy Linden 29 years, 54 days (1950 Indianapolis 500)	Youngest driver to score points in Formula One 25 years, 276 days (1951 Indianapolis 500)	Succeeded by Troy Ruttman 22 years, 80 days (1952 Indianapolis 500)

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[1] U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

[Gates-2] Gates, Bob (March 2, 2010). "Bobby Ball Could Have Been One Of America's Greats". Turn 3 Media. Retrieved January 2, 2013.

[3] "Ball Wins 100 Mile Race, James Is Hurt Seriously". The Fresno Bee. 3 November 1952. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.