The king isn't always succeeded by a prince. Sometimes a princess ascends to become the queen. In the succession rite to succeed Ron Hornaday as the Valley's auto racing torch bearer, Misty Balser is as into fairy tales as any of her teenage Valley contemporaries. That is, as long the fairy tale comes with a carburetor attached. Balser, 13, was in the grandstands at Orange Show Speedway when Hornaday made his second annual homecoming July 12 for the Hornaday 100 late models race. When the Acton resident returned to OSS on July 26, it was in the driver's seat of a race car in the INEX Legend Cars series. Though the field of 21 cars included drivers twice and in some cases three times Balser's age, she held her own for a top-15 finish. Not bad for somebody who had been racing Go-Karts at Willow Springs as recently as last year, and had seemingly been content to move up to the Bandoleros class at Toyota Speedway of Irwindale. "Karting is a great place to start," said Balser, who won multiple Karting championships at Willow Springs. "But the short track forum is awesome. "It provides the racing I am looking for." Balser began racing at age 5, when her dream of Karting was fulfilled by the sight of a brand-new Go-Kart under the Christmas tree. The rookie of the year in the Willow Springs Karting Club in 2004, Balser went on to win five different WSKC championships from 2005-07, as well as a national points title. With the help of Santa Clarita-based MotorsportsWeb.com and Scott Lynch, who is also Hornday's webmaster, the financing was located to purchase a Bandolero car and race this season at Toyota Speedway of Irwindale. "Misty's hero in racing, the guy who got her started with that first Go-Kart, was her grandfather, Dave Balser," Lynch said. "He called MotorsportsWeb.com and told me, 'Scott, I have become very ill and the time has come to find out who is here and who is going to help Misty.'" Dave Balser knew Lynch was a big Hornaday fan and, like Hornaday, spent years building race cars in Saugus. Balser, who was battling life-threatening cancer at the time, reasoned that the creator of Ronhornday.com could help. He was right. "I told Dave," said Lynch, "that we are racers, we come from Saugus, and as I have learned from the one they call 'The Professor', it's all about racing, and it's all about the kids." With strengthened financial backing, Balser struck out for the track FOX Sports announcer Darrell Waltrip says produces "the best short-track racing I have ever seen." In her first four Bandolero races at Toyota Speedway of Irwindale, Balser had the lead each time. She posted a pair of second-place finishes, chasing Aaron Anderson of Lancaster across the finish line. Embolden by her success, and inspired the sight of the former Sierra Highway resident who is now seeking his record fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, Balser has already made the jump the next level with Legends cars. "My goal is to race in NASCAR," Balser said. "Girls have made great strides in racing this year with Danica (Patrick in the Indy Racing League), Ashley (Force in NHRA's Funny Cars) and Hillary Will (in NHRA Top Fuel). "Those women have really made a mark for us girls, and I want to make my mark." The next phase in that effort will come this weekend in Las Vegas, where Balser will attempt to race in both her Bandolero and Legends cars. Brian Liberante and his son, Race, a Valley family that has been involved in racing for years, have come aboard as coaches in the last couple of months. Liberante has taken Balser out to test at Willow Springs. If Shane and Michele Balser's teenager appears star-crossed, that's only literally true. When her grandfather lost his battle with cancer in January, Balser lost her racing hero, the one she helped rebuild classic cars in his shop in Saugus. She decided her car would be more than a dream. It would be a tribute on wheels. So Balser has spangled her car with stars, in pink, red and white. She will soon start selling the stars, with proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society. More information is available at Mistybalser.com. "My grandfather died from cancer, and he is missed by so many," said Balser. "I want to help stop this thing." She's off to a great start.
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| Misty Balser, Growing Up Fast @ Orange Show | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Acton,
Ca) After sitting in the grandstands
at Orange Show Speedway in, San
Bernardino,Ca, for the 2nd Annual
Hornaday 100, driver Misty Balser
could not wait to race on the
legendary track.
This past Saturday night was, Misty's debut |
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I really want to thank the track officials and the Stockman family, they are all awesome!"
A driver who has been racing for 7 years, is just getting started. Doesn't make sense to some, but the understanding of Short Track racing verses the style of racing where, Misty has made a name for herself... Go Karting, explains her new challenges.
The two are very different in so many aspects, but one thing holds true to both styles of racing, the driver!
Misty is a vision driven, focused racer who simply loves to go fast. When I was her age, racing wasn't really an option, except the BMX (Bicycle) style of racing, so that's what I did, but the young racers of today, have series' such as the newly added attraction to Orange Show, the Midget cars, for drivers as young as 5, and the INEX (600 Racing), and ASA Speed Trucks to start their career much sooner.
"Karting is a great place to start, but the short track forum is awesome, it provides the racing I am looking for," commented Balser. Her goal is to race in NASCAR.
This first race would show a dedicated driver willing to learn and compete with drivers twice and even three times her age. She started in the rear of the field of 21 cars and got a top 15 finish.
Her short track, Bandolero, owned by Scott Lynch of MotorsportsWeb. com, has seen some top finishes at other venues. "I have two 2nd place trophies from racing the Bandolero," commented Balser. "I love the INEX group, they offer so much and my dad and I feel were living the dream."
How does one do all of this at the young age of 13? Well, she doesn't do it on her own.
Misty's Grandfather, Dave Balser found a special side to his Granddaughter. One day he found she knew the concepts of a car, as they were driving on a winding road and, Misty told her grandfather to down shift and go faster.
At age 5, Misty showed her grandfather a go-kart and she said she wanted to race. What else would a car enthusiasts like, Dave Balser, who built some awesome classic cars, do when he heard this from his granddaughter, what else, he bought her a go-kart and got her into racing. Misty would bring home a rookie of the year title, a National points title, and back-to-back club titles in two different divisions.
Dave Balser said to me, "Yes, it cost allot of money, but for what we get out of it as a family, and what, Misty gets out of life, it's all worth it!"
In January of this year, Misty's grandfather and number one fan past-a-way.
Losing, Dave to cancer was hard, yet, as I stood with his family, friends and co-workers reflecting, Dave's life, I felt I had to say these words, "Dave's body maybe gone, but he lives by way of his dreams, in Misty, and everyone can follow Dave's dream at MistyBalser.com"
Misty's car's are decorated with different colored stars, pink, red and white, and wants to start a campaign to bring in funds to help fight cancer. 'My Grandpa died from cancer and so did 8 year old, Tanner Lusk. The Bandolero says, "Together For Tanner" on it and so many miss her, like her family and racer's like Ron Hornaday are heart broken, and I know, because I lost my grandfather to cancer and he is very missed by so many. I want to help stop this thing." Misty will start selling stars that will go on her car, and money made will go to the American Cancer Society. "I have to thank, Coz, the announcer at Orange Show, he talked to me about how I can get started with the local chapters of the ACS," added Misty.
For the first time since Dave's passing, I sat down with his son, Misty's father, Shane.
Shane found pride in the story telling, and one that stood in my mind the most was... "When I was five, me and my dad worked on his cars together, and funny thing is, Misty joined us and at age 5. My Dad or I would ask, Misty to get a 12mm and she would ask if we wanted a socket or a wrench." I saw in his eyes, the loss, yet the pride strongly pushed through. Shane continued, "With the opportunities for the kids today, my kid is racing instead of just helping out. It's funny, now I am helping her!"
You could tell, Dave is missed, but he is the true driving force and vision of the dream.
Before his passing, Dave called MotorsportsWeb. com and said these words, "Scott, I have become very ill, and the time has come to find out who is here and going to help, Misty."
Scott told, Dave, who was a big supporter of, Ron Hornaday, we are racers, we are from Saugus, and I have learned from one they call the Professor, Ron Hornaday... it's about racing and it's about the kids.
The funding for her move up from Karting to the Short Track style racing was found and Misty found herself, "Getting A Ride," as MotorsportsWeb. com put her in the car her Grandfather wanted to see her race.
Misty went to Orange Show Speedway, one of the most racer and fan friendly tracks on the west coast, and she made her short track debut, with her Grandfather in the stands.
Moving along, Lynch and Balser knew something would have to change.
Karting was something that was conflicting with the dream of moving up, but who could work on the car?
Friends through karting, The Liberante family, was working with Lil' Al Simpson and would be on hand to assist with, Misty's racing, by working on the car. Misty did well and brought home a 2nd place trophy.
A few weeks later, on the way home from a family vacation, Misty said to her father... "I don't want to race go karts this weekend, I want to race Scott's Bandolero."
Here she was, making a career decision on her own. Her Father supported the action and Misty went racing, bringing home another 2nd.
On to the Legends.
The Liberante's, driver Race and Father Brian, have been working with Misty the past couple of months, and it seems Dave's dreams for his Granddaughter are in full-swing.
Brian had, Misty testing out at Willow Springs and has been crewing on the MotorsportsWeb. com Bandolero the past two events.
"It's awesome that Brian and Race are working with, Misty and Shane. I told, Brian how thankful I was and happy to know he's there for them in this new form of racing," stated Lynch.
Misty's Legend debut was only fitting to be at her "Home Track" and know that Grandpa Dave is watching from the Grandstands in the sky.
This weekend, Misty will be heading out to Las Vegas and is in hopes of running the Bandolero and the Legend car.