New England Modified Legend Billy Greco to Serve as Grand Marshal of 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that New England modified racing legend Billy Greco will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler. Greco began his career in the early 1950’s driving the #44 for Sharkey Gaudiosi and he made a name for himself by teaming up with his brother George and racing the #43. Greco recorded over 300 feature wins in his career with wins at West Haven, Riverside, Plainville Stadium, Rhinebeck, Lonsdale, Menands, Stafford, Waterford, Freeport, Eastern States, Islip, and the Pine Bowl. Greco claimed track championships at West Haven, Riverside, and Albany Saratoga.
“I had good times and bad times, but it was mostly good times as far as racing went,” said Greco. “My big track was Riverside. I did a lot of racing at Stafford too but I couldn’t keep up with guys like Troyer, Bodine, and Bugsy because I didn’t have the money and the equipment that they did. I wish I had been able to do a little better at Stafford than I did. It’s a great honor for me to be the Grand Marshal of the Spring Sizzler, I’ve never been asked to do something like this before. I’ll certainly treasure the opportunity.”
With all of Greco’s racing accomplishments, he is perhaps most known for his exploits at Riverside Park Speedway, which include 7 Riverside 500 Team Race victories. Greco teamed with names like Bob Stefanik, Danny Galullo, and Jocco Maggiacamo for his 500 team wins, but he says his victory with Maggiacamo was one of his favorites.
“My favorite had to be the win with Jocco at Riverside in the 500 team race,” said Greco. “It was an honor for me to be a partner with Jocco. He asked me to be his partner when he was a champion and I was just a little guy getting started and everyone looked up to him.”
In addition to racing at Stafford, Greco has another connection to Stafford as a young Chuck Zentarski was part of Greco’s crew before he went on to win 2 Late Model championships at Stafford.
“I remember Chuck Zentarski was part of the crew,” said Greco. “He was just a kid and he came up to my brother George one day and asked if he could help out and become part of the crew. We had Chuck’s name on the side of the car along with the rest of the crew and my brother taught Chuck everything he knows about cars.”
The 2014 NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 25 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge. Action continues on Saturday, April 26 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions and the NorthEast Mini Stock Tour. Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, DARE Stock, and NEMST divisions. The Sizzler continues on Sunday, April 27 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party followed by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR