Bobby Ball

Bobby Ball (August 26, 1925 - February 27, 1954): An American racing driver from Phoenix, Arizona, Ball began his career in midget car racing, winning the Arizona State Midget Association championship in 1949 and 1950. He competed in the AAA Championship Car series, finishing fifth in the 1951 Indianapolis 500. Ball’s career was tragically cut short after a racing accident in 1953 left him in a coma; he succumbed to his injuries 14 months later. In his honor, the Bobby Ball Memorial race was established, becoming a notable event in American open-wheel racing.