Team Owner Ballew Nabbed for DUI

Billy Ballew -- the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team owner who Sprint Cup star Kyle Busch often drives for -- was arrested Wednesday evening at Hampton, Ga.'s, Atlanta Motor Speedway on a charge of driving under the influence.

The story, first picked up by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said Ballew was arrested by a sargeant in the Henry County Sherriff's office after Ballew was flagged down while transporting a sponsor from his at-track condominium to a motorhome in the infield.

Ballew confirmed the story to the paper, but claimed that he was simply carrying a mixed drink and "was not drunk" at the time of arrest.
From the story:

Ballew said he was driving a sponsor from his condominium to the passenger's motor home when "an irate cop" wearing a cap marked "security" stopped him. The condo and the mobile home, said Ballew, are both on racetrack property.

Ballew said he refused to take a breathalyzer test, but acknowledged that he was carrying a mixed drink in the car when he was pulled over.

"It was only one drink. I was not drunk," Ballew said. "I was on Atlanta Motor Speedway property. I was not on the highway."

Unfortunately for Ballew, simply being on private property doesn't usually affect a DUI charge. However, one thing that should be be pointed out is that there is no specific mention of whether or not Ballew actually ever tested above Georgia's legal blood-alcohol level limit.

It'll be interesting to see how this all turns out, though I have a suspicion that he'll probably be charged with a lesser offense after the prosecutor's office takes a look at the case.

Last season, the transporter hauling Ballew's trucks and team equipment to Texas Motor Speedway burned along the highway en route to TMS, and a quick-thinking hauler driver pulled out the truck that Kyle Busch was supposed to race that weekend. The truck suffered cosmetic burns but was later used in the weekend by Busch.

Ballew's No. 51 Toyota team is scheduled to compete with Kyle Busch in Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.5-mile track.