Getting to Know NEMA Midget Driver Pete Pernesiglio
This veteran driver has an impressive resume that spans almost 4 decades, with lots of track miles along the way.
1. Name – Pete Pernesiglio
2. Age/date of birth – 43 – 8/24/70
3. Hometown – Lake Grove, Long Island, New York
4. Occupation – Auto Parts Sales.
5. Spouse – wife/Angela
6. Car number and significance – 80 – bought the car with that number and it looked good so we left it. Dad’s cars were always number 50
7. Chassis – Beast.
8. Engine builder – Esslinger/Phil’s Machine.
9. Owner – Peter J. Pernesiglio “Mazda Pete”
10. Crew chief – Neal Blatt
11. Crew – Myself – Dad – Neal – Mikey – Angela
12. Sponsors – sponsors needed.
13. Favorite food – prime rib.
14. Favorite music – a wide variety.
15. Favorite movie – Smokey and the Bandit.
16. Favorite sport, other than race – If it doesn’t have wheels. I’m not interested.
17. Favorite track – Hard to say, all tracks should be treasured these days. We are losing way too many of them.
18. Years in racing – 36 – there has been a race car in the garage since I was eight years old.
19. How did you get started – started watching races at Islip Speedway, from their dad bought his first car when I was eight and the rest is history.
20. How long with current series – if you count the first time we rolled through the gate at Star Speedway for a NEMA event, it’s been 36 years.
21. Best career finish – three win’s with NEMA – one feature win at Riverhead (Street stock division)
22. What other divisions/championships – Street stock at Riverhead – NASCAR modified – 3/4 midget with ATQMRA – three starts at Atlantic City indoor events – Pro Four modified –NEMA midget.
23. What would you like to accomplish in racing – to run a tour modified, but no one gives a tour ride on their driving ability anymore, just a big checkbook. The question always asked is “what can you bring”
24. What is the best advice you ever got – to make a small fortune in racing, you first have to start with a big one.
Sources: Crystal Snape/YankeeRacer.com