UB Staff Member Competes On Burton’s Winning NASCAR Team

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It may not get as much publicity in Buffalo as hockey or football, but according to David Ballard, auto racing is one of the biggest sports in Western New York.

And Ballard should know. On the weekends, the associate director of student unions at the University at Buffalo suits up for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup and Busch Grand National Series races as a member of the Exide Team pit crew for NASCAR star-driver Jeff Burton.

"You'd be surprised how many race fans there are on campus, not to mention in Western New York," says Ballard. "I was in Michigan a few weeks ago for a race and ran into at least 100 racing fans from Buffalo."

Nearly every weekend from May through September for the past three years, Ballard has flown out of Buffalo to cities nationwide to take his place as a member of Burton's team. "I'm what they call a 'weekend warrior,'" he says.

An East Amherst resident, Ballard began his UB career 19 years ago in University Facilities. In 1995, he joined the Division of Student Affairs, where he helps oversee the operation of student facilities, including the Student Union on the North Campus, Harriman Hall on the South Campus and the Oasis and Creative Craft Center in the Ellicott Complex.

But Ballard was interested in racing long before he came to UB.

"I have been interested in cars and racing ever since I could hold a wrench," says Ballard, who recalls as a child going to the races at the Lancaster Speedway and the now-extinct Civic Stadium at Jefferson and Best streets with his father and uncles. "For most of my life, I have been involved in auto racing in some capacity, whether it be as a driver, owner or mechanic."

Ballard's race-day duties include overseeing the computerized technical data, such as timing, scoring, track position, and lap time, as well as monitoring fuel consumption.

"Right now, our expectation is to win the 1999 Winston Cup championship," says Ballard. "So far this season, we have already won four races and are ranked fourth in national points in the premier NASCAR series."

The most exciting moment Ballard recalls this year was in May when the team won the World 600, one of the most prestigious races of the Winston-Cup series.

He emphasizes that just like in any other sport, members of the race team, which includes crew members and the driver, have to work together and that each participant is a true athlete.

Ballard also maintains that auto racing is the fastest-growing sport in the world. "Overall, it has more televised, prime-time presence than any other sport around and the fan base is constantly growing," he says.

He regrets that auto racing, compared to other sports, gets little attention in the local media. "I don't think they believe it is of interest to the public," explains Ballard. "Many local fans call me during the week for updates and accurate details about the races. A lot of fans also have to depend on the Internet for race results.

"I think the biggest misconception about racing is that people don't realize that auto racing is a real sport with millions of fans. Drivers, as well as crew members, are just as physically fit as any other athlete," he adds. "Crew members can change four, 80-pound tires, fill a car with 22 gallons of gas, clean the windshield and make adjustments in 15 seconds," Ballard explains. "It really is a team sport with intense preparation, planning and strategy."