Tony Siscone
Encyclopedia
Tony Siscone was raised in Collings Lakes, New Jersey
. He graduated from Hammonton High School in 1967 and later went on to graduate from Rider University
in 1971. Siscone was a successful high school teacher for 17 years. After receiving the "Governor's Teacher of the Year" award in 1987 Tony and his Wife started a successful racing safety equipment business, Safety Connection, for 14 years. In 1976, Siscone married Margaret "Margi" Clark, of Berlin, and they have two Children, Jaclyn (b. 1978) and A.Jay (b. 1981). Most Notably, Siscone was a very successful asphalt modified racecar driver
from 1972 through 1994.
between 1962-1970. Siscone won IKF State and Regional go-cart titles and competed several times in National Championship go-kart events finishing in the top 6 twice. Siscone began his stock car racing
career in 1972 driving the Richie Terruso Brothers' T3 sportsman car to 8 victories at Atlantic City Speedway and Wall Stadium
. In 1974 Tony won his first track championship driving the T4 owned by his dad Tony Sr. and Tony Ruberti. 1975-76 Siscone drove the famous #65 car, owned by John Lyons
and powered by a Tom Skinner/Lyons chevy racing engine which Tony drove to 12 victories and his 2nd championship. In 1978, Tony also drove the 21X owned by Edward Brown III (6 wins), and the 21 owned by Sal Debruno (4 wins) winning every race the 2 cars finished resulting in the track championship. Almost 30 years later in 2009, Edward Brown bought what He and Siscone believe to be one of the #14 cars that Siscone drove for Dick Barney. This car is being completely restored and driven by his son Kevin Brown. Most notably, Siscone drove the Dick Barney owned #14 for 16 1/2 years. During his 22 years behind the wheel, Tony collected over 165 victories and 12 track championships (6 at Wall Stadium, 3 at Atlantic City Speedway, 2 at Flemington Speedway, and 1 at New Egypt Speedway
). In 1983, the Barney/Siscone Team won the New Egypt Speedway NASCAR Championship finishing in the top 3 in every race with no DNF's.Siscone also won the 1984 NASCAR Cardinal 500 at the Martinsville Speedway
, only 2 years after being seriously burned at the track after being involved in a fiery crash with Ray Evernham
. Siscone won multiple victories at the Clearfield Speedway, Mahoning Valley Speedway, Evergreen Speedway, among others. During his Championship stints throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Siscone at one point won 11 consecutive feature events at Flemington Speedway and tallied nearly 60 victories at Wall Stadium ranking him second all-time in wins at the track behind Gil Hearne. Tony Siscone culminated his career with a victory in the 1994, 44th annual, Sunoco Race of Champions
at Flemington Speedway, a race that Siscone had failed to win in 10 previous attempts. Siscone competed against many of the greatest modified drivers in the sports history, including: Richie Evans
, Geoffrey Bodine
, Gil Hearne, Reggie Ruggerio, Eddie Flemke Sr., Mike Stefanik
, and many others. In 2000, Siscone was voted the 17th greatest modified driver in the Area Auto Racing News' "Top-25 Modified Drivers of the 20th Century". Siscone was also inducted into the National Old Timers Hall of Fame and the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club's Hall of Fame.
Collings Lakes, New Jersey
Collings Lakes is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within parts of Buena Vista Township and Folsom Borough in Atlantic County, and Monroe Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States...
. He graduated from Hammonton High School in 1967 and later went on to graduate from Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
in 1971. Siscone was a successful high school teacher for 17 years. After receiving the "Governor's Teacher of the Year" award in 1987 Tony and his Wife started a successful racing safety equipment business, Safety Connection, for 14 years. In 1976, Siscone married Margaret "Margi" Clark, of Berlin, and they have two Children, Jaclyn (b. 1978) and A.Jay (b. 1981). Most Notably, Siscone was a very successful asphalt modified racecar driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
from 1972 through 1994.
Racing career
Tony Siscone began his racing career driving go-kartsKart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
between 1962-1970. Siscone won IKF State and Regional go-cart titles and competed several times in National Championship go-kart events finishing in the top 6 twice. Siscone began his stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
career in 1972 driving the Richie Terruso Brothers' T3 sportsman car to 8 victories at Atlantic City Speedway and Wall Stadium
Wall Township Speedway
Wall Township Speedway is a race track in Wall Township, New Jersey. The track opened to the public in the spring of 1950 and has operated for at least a part of every year since. The track was an early home to racing stars Ray Evernham and Martin Truex, Jr. Also, it hosted NASCAR Strictly Stock...
. In 1974 Tony won his first track championship driving the T4 owned by his dad Tony Sr. and Tony Ruberti. 1975-76 Siscone drove the famous #65 car, owned by John Lyons
John Lyons
John Lyons is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.At the 2001 general election, he was elected to the British House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden....
and powered by a Tom Skinner/Lyons chevy racing engine which Tony drove to 12 victories and his 2nd championship. In 1978, Tony also drove the 21X owned by Edward Brown III (6 wins), and the 21 owned by Sal Debruno (4 wins) winning every race the 2 cars finished resulting in the track championship. Almost 30 years later in 2009, Edward Brown bought what He and Siscone believe to be one of the #14 cars that Siscone drove for Dick Barney. This car is being completely restored and driven by his son Kevin Brown. Most notably, Siscone drove the Dick Barney owned #14 for 16 1/2 years. During his 22 years behind the wheel, Tony collected over 165 victories and 12 track championships (6 at Wall Stadium, 3 at Atlantic City Speedway, 2 at Flemington Speedway, and 1 at New Egypt Speedway
New Egypt Speedway
New Egypt Speedway as of 2009 was renovated to become a true-oval clay race track in New Egypt, New Jersey.-Current state:New Egypt Speedway currently holds races on Saturday nights from April to October. The speedway draws over 150 race cars on a weekly basis...
). In 1983, the Barney/Siscone Team won the New Egypt Speedway NASCAR Championship finishing in the top 3 in every race with no DNF's.Siscone also won the 1984 NASCAR Cardinal 500 at the Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, only 2 years after being seriously burned at the track after being involved in a fiery crash with Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham is currently a consultant for Hendrick Companies. In 1999, Evernham won the NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”.-Racer:...
. Siscone won multiple victories at the Clearfield Speedway, Mahoning Valley Speedway, Evergreen Speedway, among others. During his Championship stints throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Siscone at one point won 11 consecutive feature events at Flemington Speedway and tallied nearly 60 victories at Wall Stadium ranking him second all-time in wins at the track behind Gil Hearne. Tony Siscone culminated his career with a victory in the 1994, 44th annual, Sunoco Race of Champions
Race of Champions
The Race of Champions is an international motorsport event held at the end of each year, featuring some of the world's best racing and rally drivers...
at Flemington Speedway, a race that Siscone had failed to win in 10 previous attempts. Siscone competed against many of the greatest modified drivers in the sports history, including: Richie Evans
Richie Evans
Richard Ernest Evans , was an American racing driver who won nine NASCAR National Modified Championships, including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame lists this achievement as "one of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports"...
, Geoffrey Bodine
Geoff Bodine
Geoffrey Eli Bodine is an American motorsport driver and bobsled builder. He is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers . Bodine currently lives in Cornelius, North Carolina....
, Gil Hearne, Reggie Ruggerio, Eddie Flemke Sr., Mike Stefanik
Mike Stefanik
Mike Stefanik is a NASCAR driver. He currently races in the Whelen Modified Tour, piloting the #16 Diversified Metals Pontiac. Stefanik was named the second greatest NASCAR Modified driver of all-time in 2003. His seven series championships are tied with Jerry Cook for second all-time, trailing...
, and many others. In 2000, Siscone was voted the 17th greatest modified driver in the Area Auto Racing News' "Top-25 Modified Drivers of the 20th Century". Siscone was also inducted into the National Old Timers Hall of Fame and the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club's Hall of Fame.