ONE
OF THE BEST PASSES AWAY
by Bob Finan
It is with deepest regrets I must inform you
this morning of the passing of one of the all time great
Figure Eight drivers Joe Biondolillo Jr. on Thursday
night/Friday morning.
Joe fought a long and courageous battle
against cancer for a couple of years now. Just this past March
the Suffolk Association of Figure Eight Racing (SAFER)
inducted Joey into their Hall of Fame. He was among the
all-time leading winners in Figure Eight racing and a
multi-time champion in the division.
Visiting hours will be Saturday and Sunday
July 17th & 18th at the Ruland Funeral Home in Patchogue
on North Ocean Avenue just north of Sunrise Highway. Calling
hours are 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. I
do not have the burial information as of right now.
Aside from being one of the best Figure
Eight drivers of all time, Joey also did a short stint in Late
Model action at Riverhead. He also traveled to the famed
3-Hour World Figure Eight Championship at the Indianapolis
Speeddrome on numerous occasions.
No matter how big a win or championship Joey
had just won the first thing he always did upon exiting his
car was look for his children, Dina Marie and Joey Jr., as
well his parents Joe Sr and his late mother Barbara and
brother Andrew. It was always family first with Joe Jr.,
something to be proud of in this day and age.
On some of his cars and tow vehicles Joey
had "Crystal Blue" written on them named after the
song by Tommy James.
For Joey after this valliant fight I hope
it's all Crystal Blue Persuasion for someone I had the
pleasure of calling friend.
