EARL FRANKLIN BALMER - 12/13/1935 - 10/25/2019
Balmer started his career at the Jeffersonville Sportsdrome in Clarksville, Indiana. Balmer drove in the ARCA Racing Series from 1959 to 1973, winning races at tracks like Salem Speedway, (IN); Pan American Speedway (San Antonio, TX); Canfield Speedway (OH); and Corpus Christi Speedway. He also won ARCA's first superspeedway race, a qualifier race for the 1964 250-mile race. During the 250 mile race, Balmer led 65 of the first 67 laps before falling victim to an oil leak. Balmer's main ride for his ARCA races were Plymouths. His first ARCA race was at Dayton Speedway in OH in April, 1959. The race was won by Nelson Stacy while Balmer finished 13th. His first top five finish would come in 1960 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway; where Don White dominated leading 296 of the 300 laps, and Balmer came home third. His first win didn't come until May 26 1963 at Salem Speedway as he battled Iggy Katona to get the win with Jack Bowsher third. In June, just eleven days later, he would win at Huntsville Speedway in AL. It was the same trio of drivers as Blamer held off Bowsher for the win and Katona third. He ran ten races in a row where his worst finish would be sixth place. When 1964 rolled around he won the qualifying race for the ARCA cars at Daytona and started on the pole for the 250 mile race. But a blown motor would end his day after only 66 laps. On March 20, 1964 he won at the 1/4 mile Pan American Speedway in San Antonia TX, the very next day he was
back in victory lane again as he won at Corpus Christie, out running Nelson Stacy and Jack Bowsher. His final ARCA win came at Canfield Speedway in OH; once again battling Jack Bowsher. Balmer, was often known as the Mad Bomber when he first appeared on the Cup series. He had opened some eyes on the Cup Series with his great runs in the ARCA Series, and got a call from Cotton Owens to drive one of his cars. His first start for Owens came at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Dixie 400. He would start 14th, but have an engine expire and finish 30th. He ran ten events the remainder of that year with a best finish of fourth at Nashville, in a race won by Richard Petty. He had a fifth
ARCA win Daytona 1964
Daytona 500 Qualifying Race win 1966
place run at West Virginia International Speedway in Huntington WV. In 1965 Balmer was hired to race part-time by Bud Moore. In the Daytona 500, he started 16th, but ran well finishing fourth as Holman-Moody and Bud Moore drivers dominated the top four spots. Holman-Hoody Racing drivers Fred Lorenzen and Bobby Johns finished first and third, while Moore drivers Darel Dieringer and Balmer finished second and fourth. In that years World 600, Balmer was once again out-dueled by Lorenzen. Lorenzen held off Balmer by six seconds to get the win.
Earl had four top ten finishes in nine starts. As 1966 kicked off, Balmer would get his first Cup win. It would come in the second qualifying race for the Daytona 500. Earl started sixth and passed Dick Hutcherson on the final lap to take the win. Back in those days, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500 (and World 600) counted as "official" NASCAR wins. Balmer finished fifth that year in the National 500 at Charlotte behind winner Lee Roy Yarbrough. Balmer made two more starts in his career. One in 1967 and one in 1968. His final start came in the World 600. Balmer would start 31st, but park his car because of poor handling and finished 42nd. For his Cup career Balmer made 32 starts over six season. He had the lone win, and had six top five and ten top ten finishes. After exiting the NASCAR scene, Balmer returned to local racing, running late models at Fairgrounds Speedway and
1966 Daytona Firecracker 400
he also did some motorcycle racing, where he became an enduro racer. In 1973 He finished second at Fairgrounds Motor Speedway in Louisville KY in an ASA Series event. John Sommerville claimed the win. Balmer attended Borden High School but dropped out after freshman year, earning a GED over thirty years later. He later lived in New Albany, Indiana, where he married and had kids. After his NASCAR career, Balmer worked as a bricklayer.
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