HARTLAND, Wis. — For the first time in his career, Bill Balog and B2 Motorsports will chase a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship.
The team will race 86 nights at 41 different tracks in 19 states with the nationally-renowned series.
When the 2024 season commences at Volusia Speedway Park for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10, the 2016 World of Outlaws Jim Boyd Memorial feature event winner will commence his run for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title in the Anderson’s Maple Syrup No. 17B.
So far, Landon Crawley will be the only other driver running for rookie of the year.
“We’ve been wanting to travel with the series and chase additional World of Outlaws feature wins against the best in the business for years, now is the time,” said Balog, who is the third winningest sprint car driver in the last 15 years. “Additionally, being a Wisconsin based team, the World of Outlaws schedule and format works best for my family and sponsors.”
After ten IRA Sprint Car Series Championships and two years competing with the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions tour, the team saw success this past season, highlighted by nine feature event wins (two ASCoC, six IRA, one Wilmot Raceway) and two Simpson QuickTime awards with the World of Outlaws.
Balog also snatched track records at Wilmot Raceway and Sycamore Speedway along the way.
Making the jump to the World of Outlaws was the natural progression for Balog with his success and recent endeavors with the All Stars. He’s aware next year will present an entirely new challenge, but it’s one he’s looking forward to conquering.
“It’s a little bit scary honestly,” Balog said of taking on the World of Outlaws. “It’s a big challenge. That’s what, I think, most of our sprint car teams in the United States crave is that challenge. I think it’s the right time with the equipment we’ve built up over the years and have a truck that we can get up and down the road with a little better.”
An aspect that has Balog eager to get 2024 rolling is the travel. His previous experience has taken him to most of the country’s sprint car racing regions. But now he’ll get to visit them all in one season and experience 14 new tracks along the way.
“I want to do good at my home tracks here in Wisconsin,” Balog said. “But I also think California will be cool and Texas. Some of those places I’ve never been. I haven’t been to quite a few of those tracks. I always like to go to Pennsylvania. I didn’t get to go to Pennsylvania in 2023, so I’m looking forward to going back there a couple times. Just the whole thing. I think it’ll be an exciting adventure.”