Joe Liguori To Make Sunoco
Super Series Debut This Saturday At Shadybowl Speedway
Salem, IN (July 27, 2004)
–
Joe Liguori will celebrate his 18th birthday by making his
Sunoco Super Series debut this Saturday in the Ludlow Automotive &
Accessories 150 Presented By Lucas Oil Products at Shadybowl Speedway.
Liguori, the grandson of famous Indianapolis racer Ralfy "The Racer"
Liguori, will be a senior in high school this fall in his hometown of
Tampa, Florida. Liguori will driver a car from the Muller Motorsports
stable as a teammate to Sunoco Super Series veteran Eddie Van Meter.
Muller Motorsports, owned by Indianapolis businessman Ken Muller, has
provided part-time rides for Tim Sibila and Kent Robinson this season in
addition to running Eddie Van Meter full time.
Liguori has spent this
summer staying with his grandfather and racing a USAC Midget mainly in the
regional shows at the Speedrome in Indianapolis were he is currently 7th
in points despite missing the first couple of shows because of school in
Florida. Liguori finished 8th in the July 7th USAC
National Midget event held at the Speedrome, his best finish to date with
the National Tour.
"I’m a little prejudice, but
there have been many others who have seen him race that think he has the
talent to make it big in racing some day," remarked Ralf Liguori. "I’m
trying to keep him racing in several types of racecars to build his
experience so he can be ready to compete in any type of car. The NASCAR
car owners are really looking at the open-wheel kids at this time,
hopefully we can get someone’s attention and get Joe’s career started!"
The third generation driver
has raced since he was six years old, racing mostly go-carts but has
progressed up to open wheel modifieds and sprint cars in Florida. Liguori
has also raced a Limited Late Model at St. Petersburg and at Bradenton.
This will be a busy week for Liguori, he will race in the regional USAC
Midget race at the Speedrome in Indianapolis on Wednesday night, then
compete in his Midget on the dirt at Wayne County before coming to
Shadybowl Speedway on Saturday.
Ralf Liguori was a very
versatile racer himself racing in both open wheel and stock cars through
out his career. Liguori finished 10th in NASCAR Grand National
Points in 1955 in what is now the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Ligouri also
competed in NACAR sanctioned midgets and champ car events, finishing
second in NASCAR Open Wheel Championship Cars points one season. Ligouri
was also an accomplished racer in both USAC Midgets and Sprint Cars
through out the Mid-west and made a couple of attempts at the Indianapolis
500.
Pit gates will open for the
Ludlow Automotive & Accessories 150 Presented By Lucas Oil Products on
Saturday at 1:30PM Ohio Time. Sunoco Super Series practice will begin at
4Pm followed by qualifying at 6PM. The evening’s race program will begin
at 7PM. The Sunoco Super Series will then travel to Toledo Speedway on
Sunday, August 1st for the make-up of the Sunoco 100.
