Tony Siscone
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Tony Siscone (born March 25, 1949) was an asphalt modified racecar driver from 1972 through 1994.
He was raised in the Collings Lakes section of Buena Vista Township, New Jersey. A resident of Hammonton, New Jersey,[1] he graduated from Hammonton High School in 1967[2] and from Rider University in 1971. Siscone was a high school teacher for 17 years. In 1976, he married Margaret, "Margi", Clark from Berlin, NJ and later had a son and a daughter. After receiving the N.J. Governor's "Teacher Recognition Award" in 1987, Siscone retired from teaching and he and his wife started their own business, Safety Connection Inc.
During his 22 years of racing, Siscone competed in 784 races, 151 victories, second place 121 times, and third place 111 times. He also earned 12 track Championships: 6-at Wall Stadium, 3-at Atlantic City Speedway, 2-at NASCAR's Flemington Speedway, and 1-at NASCAR's New Egypt Speedway. Tony Siscone ranked second in all-time wins in Wall Stadium's NASCAR Modified division.
He retired after winning the 1994 "Sunoco Race of Champions 250" at Flemington Speedway.
Racing career
[edit]Tony Siscone began his racing career driving go-karts from 1962-1969. He and his father had 90 victories including IKF State and Regional karting titles. Siscone and his father, Tony Sr., competed several times in IKF National Championship go-kart events against factory backed teams, finishing 10th, 6th and 4th.
Tony Siscone began his stock car racing career in 1972 by driving the Richie Terruso Brothers' #T3 sportsman car to 8 victories at Atlantic City Speedway and Wall Stadium. Siscone won his first track championship in 1974, driving the #T4 owned by his father and Tony Ruberti at the Atlantic City Speedway. During 1975 & 1976, Siscone drove the #65 car owned by John Lyons and powered by a Tom Skinner/Lyons Chevy racing engine to 12 victories and his 2nd Championship. In 1978, Siscone drove the #21X owned by Ed Brown/John Lyons to 6 wins, and the #21 owned by Sal DeBruno to 4 wins. The 2 cars won every race they finished, resulting in Siscone's 3rd track championship at the Atlantic City Speedway.
From 1973-1975 Siscone struggled to get his modified stock car career on track. The Terruso brothers gave Siscone his first opportunity to compete in the modified ranks driving their modified #T2. As time went on, the team realized they lacked the finances to compete with the top teams. During the 1975 season, Siscone and the Terruso team parted ways, and Siscone went on to drive for anyone who would to give him a chance. After 3 Modified seasons, Siscone had 5-top 5 finishes in 11 races, including 3 times in which he finished in second place. He did not, however, finish in first place in any of these races. Midway through the 1976 season at Wall Stadium, Siscone landed a ride in Tom Green's #71 modified. Siscone wheeled the "Green Machine" to 6 top 5 finishes but still failed to reach victory lane.
In 1977, after 4 modified seasons, fellow Hammontonian Frank Ransom offered Siscone the ride in his controversial #0 NASCAR Modified. The Ransom/Siscone Team won 3 modified events with a 355 CI small block Chevy engine against the big block modifieds at Wall Stadium and NASCAR's New Egypt Speedway. In April 1978, opening night at Wall Stadium, the Ransom/Siscone team won the modified main event. 4 days after celebrating their big win, car owner Frank Ransom passed away. Siscone and Team Ransom were devestated, and Siscone was left without a modified car to drive. After 3 months without a modified ride at Wall Stadium, Siscone was given the chance to drive the Fred & Kathy Burdge #57 modified. After 11 races, the Burdge/Siscone team ended the season with three top 5 finishes, six top 10 finishes.
In August 1978, car owner Dick Barney, Robert Barney, and Hoyet Morrison offered Siscone the chance to drive their #14 modified car during the last six races of the season at NASCAR's New Egypt Speedway. Siscone finished all six races in the top 5. The Barney/Morrison team wrapped up the 1978 season at Wall Stadium's "Turkey Derby 150". Siscone started 23rd in the Derby and charged to a 5th place finish. Needless to say, Siscone continued to drive the #14 for the next 16 1/2 years.
In 1982, Tony Siscone crashed into Ray Evernham (car #19) at the Martinsville Speedway. The accident occured on lap 166 of the 250-lap race. Evernham's car stalled out, and Siscone crashed into him, causing a large, firey explosion. While Evernham only suffered minor burns, Siscone suffered 3rd degree burns on both of his hands.[3] The following year, 1983, the Barney/Siscone Team won the New Egypt Speedway NASCAR Championship, finishing top 3 in every race. The Barney/Siscone Team also won the 1983 Wall Stadium modified championship. Despite his injuries, Siscone returned to the Martinsville Speedway-- 2 years after grafting surgery--for the 1984 NASCAR Cardinal 250, winning the prestigous race!
Siscone, surprisingly, retired from racing in 1994 after winning the "Sunoco Race of Champions 250" at Flemington Speedway.
Awards & Achievements
[edit]| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 1972 | "Rookie of the Year" - Wall Stadium and Atlantic City Speedway |
| 1983 | "Fred DeSarro Sportsmanship Award" |
| 1984 | "Driver of the Week Award" - Motor Week Illustrated |
| 1989 | "Dick Toby Tobias Achievement Award" |
| 1995 | Inducted into the "Race of Champions Hall of Fame" |
| 1999 | Inducted into the "National Old Timers Racing Hall of Fame" |
| 2001 | Inducted into the "Garden State Stock Car Club's Hall of Fame" |
| 2013 | Inducted into the "Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame" |
References
[edit]- ^ via Associated Press. "Kent captures Cardinal 500", Lakeland Ledger, November 1, 1982. Accessed December 4, 2012. "Both cars caught fire after the Firenza driven by Ray Evernham of Hazlet, hit the backstretch wall and the Firenza driven by Tony Siscone of Hammonton, N. J., crashed into him at an estimated 100 mph."
- ^ 'Hamm'ton Seniors Get Colleges' OK", The Press of Atlantic City, April 21, 1967. Accessed May 9, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "The following seniors at Hammonton High School have 'been accepted in college:... Anthony Siscone, Rider College"
- ^ "Category Archives: Tony Siscone". Racing Photography Archives.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "H. Clay Earles - Martinsville Speedway". Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ^ http://lookingback.speedwaylinereport.com/PDF/NOV07/11-2-07LB.pdf [dead link]
- ^ "New Egypt Speedway - Track History". Archived from the original on 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-06-30.