Mike
started
his racing
career at the age of fifteen and over the years his commitment
to racing and his dynamic racing ability have won him numerous
racing titles and awards. Mike Balzano is a determined individual
and is driven to be the absolutely the best at what he does.
"Blazo's"
present dirt late model program is headquartered in Parkersburg,
West Virginia. A 2,200 square foot building with state of the
art equipment has housed the team and transporter since 1991.
The race program includes two brand new 2007 Rocket Chevrolet
Monte Carlo's at his disposal. Mike has shown loyalty to Rocket
Chassis ever since their existance and will continue to support
Mark Richard's and his Rocket Chassis designs. Last year the
team switched to Cornett Thunder Race Engines and will continue
to do so throughout 2007. Complete pit and shop equipment and
a team hauler consisting of a 1990 Kenworth tractor and a 43ft
fully enclosed 2 car transporter with complete work area make
up the teams race program. The crew consists of three individuals
who are totally dedicated to Mike on race days as well as practices
and test sessions.
Placing
second in the 2006 MACS Championship points chase, Mike earned
2nd place point money along with numerous incentives from the
2006 winners circle program. Balzano powered his Biscotti Restaurant
/ Eddies Auto Parts / Hoosier Tire / Rocket Chassis/Cornett
Thunder Racing Engines No. E1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to four
event wins in 45 feature starts and notched 14 Top 5 finishes
and 21 Top 10 finishes during the ultra competitive 2006 Dirt
Late Model season.
|
|
| 2006
Major Feature Victories |
| Tyler
County Speedway Middlebourne, WV "MACS" |
| Elkins
Speedway Elkins, WV "Gear Memorial" |
2005/
2004 Major Feature Victories |
| 2005
Lernerville Speedway Sarver, PA "Earl Bauman Memorial" |
|
Hesston Speedway Hesston, PA "Hesston Fall Nationals" |
2004
Lowes Motor Speedway Charlotte, NC "Jani King Southern
Showdown $17,000 win" |
|
2003
Major Feature Victories |
311 Speedway Madison, NC "Battle in Carolina 50" |
Stateline
Speedway Busti, NY "Bossard-Crawford GM Store 50" |
| Brushcreek
Motorsports Complex "Bob Malcolm Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep
50" |
Brushcreek
Motorsports Complex "AMERICAN HERITAGE 101 Harley Race" |
Hagerstown
Speedway "Hagerstown/Winchester Shootout" |
Portsmouth
Raceway Park "Night Before the Pepsi 100" |
|
| 2002
Major Feature Victories |
| Muskingum
County Speedway "Northern All-Stars Event" |
| I-79
Speedway "WV State Championship Race" |
Muskingum
County Speedway "Memorial Day Shootout" |
| Mountain
Motor Speedway "Miller Bros. Coal Classic 40" |
| Portsmouth
Raceway Park "Renegage Series $10,000 win " |
Muskingum
County Speedway "Butch Hartman/Lutz Memorial Renegade
$7,000 win " |
|
| 2001
Major Feature Wins |
Portsmouth
Raceway Park "Glockner Firecracker 100"
|
Cannonball
Motor Speedway "The Mid-Atlantic Championship Series" |
K-C
Raceway "UDTRA Ohio Shootout $10,000 win" |
West
Virginia Motor Speedway "Pepsi Invitational" |
|
| 2000
Major Feature Wins |
K-C
Raceway "Spring 50" |
The
Rock " The Rock 40" |
| Hagerstown
Speedway "Stanley Schetrompf Memorial 50" |
| Sharon
Speedway "Steel Valley 50" |
| Stateline
Speedway "Corry Laser Technology 50" |
Muskingum
County Speedway "Muskingum Valley 50" |
| Raceway
7 Speedway "John Rugala Auto Campus 40" |
| Pennsboro
Speedway "Pennsboro Challenge" |
| Pennsboro
Speedway "Pennsboro Summer Nationals $20,000" |
|
1999
Major Feature Wins |
| Challenger
Raceway "Challenger 50" |
| Midway
Speedway "Jim Dunn Memorial" |
| Hagerstown
Speedway "52nd Anniversary" |
|
| 1998
Major Feature Wins |
| East
Bay Raceway Park "Winter Nationals $10,000" |
| Volunteer
Speedway "The Volunteer 100 $10,000" |
|
| Racing
Highlights |
1980
Skyline & Interstate Speedway Mid season Championship.
1981 Skyline, Jackson County & Interstate 79 Speedway Track
Champion.
1982 Skyline & Tyler County Speedway Track Champion.
1983 Tyler County Track Champion
1984 "All-Star Circuit of Champions" - Rookie of The
Year.
1985 "STARS" National Rookie of the Year.
1986 Won 10 Features on the All-Star Circuit of Champions.
1987 "All Star Circuit of Champions" - National Champion.
1987 Won 9 Features on STARS circuit, Triple points series winner.
1987 "Buckeye Nationals" Winner- Buckeye Speedway.
1987 "USA 100" Winner - Beckley Motor Speedway
1988 "All Star Circuit of Champions" - National Driver
of the Year.
1988 "Dirt Track World Championship" 4th place - Pennsboro
Speedway.
1989 "STARS" - National Champion.
1990 "STARS" - National Champion.
1990 "World 100" Pole Sitter, Winner of 6th Heat - Eldora
Speedway.
1994 "Spring Classic" Winner - Brownstown Speedway.
1995 "Mountain Blossom 50" Winner - Pennsboro Speedway.
1996 "Pinnacle 50 TV Race" Winner - Ace High Speedway
(Raceway 7).
1997 “USA 100" $10,000 Winner - Beckley Motor Speedway.
1998 “Pittsburgher 100" Runner Up - Pennsylvania Motor
Speedway
2000 “RENEGADE STARS Racing Series” “Dash King
Award”
2000 “RENEGADE STARS Racing Series” Most Features
Win .
2000 Led first 33 laps of "UDTRA Living Air 100" - Bristol
Motor Speedway.
2001 "Freedom 100" - Runner up - West Virginia Motor
Speedway.
2001 11th place in "National Behind the Wheel Top 25."
2002 “Dream 100" 12th place - Eldora Speedway.
2003 “New Track Record" 14.623 - Interstate 79 Speedway.
2004 “World of Outlaws Late Models" 2nd place - Sharon
Speedway.
2005 “UMP Florida National Championship Series" -5th
place.
2005 "Dream 100" 15th place - Eldora Speedway.
|
|
| MACS
Late Model Series Results |
|
1st:
2005 2nd:
2006 |
| World
of Outlaws Late Model Series Results |
| 9th:
2004 14th:
2006 |
| STARS/Renegade
Dirt Car Results |
| 1st:
1989 and 1990 2nd:
1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and
2003 3rd: 1984
and 1988 4th: 1992,
1994, 1996, and 1997 5th:
1993 |
