KOKOMO, Ind. – Robert Ballou won Sunday’s Bob Darland Memorial race for non-winged sprint cars at Kokomo Speedway, but was injured in a crash just after the checkered flag.
Ballou led all 30 laps of the feature at the quarter-mile Indiana dirt track, but coming to the checkered flag found the ailing car of Koby Barksdale in his path.
Ballou could not avoid Barksdale’s machine in time and the two cars collided as Ballou crossed under the checkered flag, with Ballou’s car eventually going over the top of Barksdale’s machine before coming to rest upside down.
Ballou was then extricated from his car, placed onto a stretcher – where he waved to the crowd – and transported to a local hospital.
Ballou’s family provided an update on his official Facebook page just after 10 p.m. on Sunday night, confirming that he broke one of his arms in two places.
Justin Grant finished second behind Ballou, followed by Chris Windom, Scotty Weir and Kevin Thomas Jr.
Dave Darland, Josh Hodges, Jarett Andretti, Tyler Hewitt and Jaden Rogers capped off the top 10.
MONDAY MORNING UPDATE:
A post on Ballou’s official Facebook page confirmed that he suffered a compound fracture in his radius and ulna in one of his arms. He underwent surgery early Monday morning for the injuries.