Bobby Ball (racing driver)


Robert Kay Ball was an American racecar driver.

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.

Racing career

Ball began racing with the Arizona Roadster Association, subsequently switching from roadsters to midgets. He won the Arizona State Midget Association championship in 1949 and 1950. He finished fifth in the 1951 Indianapolis 500 and 32nd in the 1952 Indianapolis 500.
Ball won the AAA Championship race at San Jose in November 1952. 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. 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

Indy 500 results

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678WDCPoints
1951Blakely OilSchroederOffenhauser L4SUI
500
5		BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
ESP
19th2
1952Ansted RotaryStevensOffenhauser L4SUI
500
32		BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
NED
ITA
NC0