TeamWWF Driver Ambassador Fights His Way to First After Claiming Pole Position
By Kris Mills, Social Media Coordinator
Kaeden Ballos was not going to let a victory slip away.
After earning pole position and leading the first 51 laps in Saturday’s race at Tri-County Speedway (Granite Falls, North Carolina), Ballos and his competitors were forced into a restart. Sitting in third with approximately 24 laps to go, Ballos started to make his way to the front.
With less than 10 laps to go, after an impressive move, he was back in the lead — a lead he would never relinquish en route to his first win of the season.
“I ended up getting shuffled to third on the restart,” said Ballos, who is TeamWWF’s newest Driver Ambassador. “I was chasing down the leader with about 15 laps to go. I caught him with seven to eight laps to go and made a thrilling pass — it was super, super close. I saw a gap and took it.”
Ballos, 18, who is from Concord, North Carolina, finished P8 in his first two races this season in the NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts (Late Model Stock class). This past weekend, however, everything was clicking.
“We were very consistent, and the car was dialed in,” Ballos said. “We had a straightaway to a straightaway and a half lead (before the restart). I was able to turn really nicely on the bottom and get on the gas soon.
“Now, I know what we have (with the race car). It is going to be a great year.”
A win always feels great, but Ballos walked away with more than a trophy on Saturday. It was “definitely” a learning experience as well, he said.
“The more that I would focus on calming myself down and going slower, the faster I would go on the track and the better I would be at saving tires,” Ballos said. “To be able to run up front, to see what it feels like to go fast but actually save your tires… it was just a blast. I had so much fun.
“I try not to get too high or too low when things like this happen… or when bad things happen, either. That is racing. Not letting that get to your head will make you better.”
Up Next
Ballos is back in action on April 18 at Tri-County Speedway. We will provide updates following the race.
Follow Ballos
Be sure to follow Ballos on his social media platforms — Facebook (Kaeden Ballos Motorsports), Instagram (KaedenBallos), and X (@KaedenBallos).
To view his personal website, go here: kaedenballosmotorsports.com.
Want to support Ballos on his journey? Click the following link: teamwwf.org/teamwwf/kaeden-ballos/.
