Gary Balough (born September 16, 1947)^[3] is an American formerstock car racing driver who competed from 1962 to 2001.^[4] Balough has won more than 1000 races throughout his short-track career and has accumulated more than twenty wins in the All-Pro division.

Throughout the 1970s, Balough expanded his racing across the entire East Coast. He moved from Late Models in the Southeast to Dirt Modifieds in the Northeast. Between 1976 and 1978, Gary won the prestigious Syracuse 200 for modifieds.^[5] Balough led one lap in his NASCAR Cup career, at the 1981 Talladega 500 where he came from 41st to first, only to suffer from an overheating engine and resulting DNF. In addition to his many short-track wins, Balough also won the 1981 Miller High Life 300NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Balough beatDale Earnhardt andJody Ridley to win the race. Bob Rahilly of RahMoc Racing owned and built the cars and engines for both of these races.^[6]

He started an average of 21st place and finished an average of 25th while bringing home a career total of $90,900 ($203,678.94 when adjusted for inflation).^[3][7]

Balough served a sentence of 45½ months in jail fordrug trafficking; which ended his career along with his marriage.^[3][7] A ride withHarry Ranier's team was in the works along with a sponsorship fromDomino's Pizza that would have paid him $750,000 ($2,151,411.66 when adjusted for inflation) for having their name appear on his car for 25 races.^[7] Balough used many car owners, engine builders and car builders to help Balough become on top of his game.^[7]

After his jail sentence expired, Balough still had access to his children and could still practice his hobby offishing.^[7] His first racing event after the end of his jail sentence was a 200-lap "All-Pro" race inSummerville, South Carolina where he earned thepole position and won the race.^[7]

Balough later wrote an autobiography and was also the subject of a documentary film.^[8]

• 1968 Florida's Governor's Cup 200 Winner
• 1976 Syracuse 200 Winner
• 1977 Syracuse 200 Winner
• 1978 Syracuse 200 Winner
• 1981 Miller High Life 300 Winner
• 1980 Snowball Derby Winner
• 1980 Syracuse 200 Winner
• 1984 All American 400 Winner
• 1984 World Crown 300 Winner
• 1986 All American 400 Winner
• 1986 All-Pro Champion
• 1986Snowball Derby Winner

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

• Gary Balough driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• 1947 births
• American drug traffickers
• American Speed Association drivers
• Living people
• NASCAR drivers
• Racing drivers from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame
• Daytona 500 drivers
• Coca-Cola 600 drivers

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata