07/19/2004

BIONDOLILLO JR. SUCCUMBS TO CANCER

    The Long Island racing world was saddened Friday morning when it was learned that former six-time Riverhead Raceway Figure Eight champion Joe Biondolillo, Jr. passed away Thursday night.  Biondolillo, who was just 46 years of age, died after a long fight with pancreatic cancer.
    Statistically Joe Biondolillo Jr. will be remembered as one of the all-time great drivers in Figure Eight racing.  He won 53 career main events at Riverhead Raceway in addition to his six championships. Biondolillo proudly wore the championship crown in 1987, '88, '93, '94, '96 and '97. Twice in 1993 and again in 1997 Joey won nine feature events in one season, a record for the division that still stands today. He sits second only to Roger Maynor in all time Figure Eight wins at the quarter mile oval. Joey also made a short foray into Late Model racing where he graced the winners circle three times, his first win coming August 15th of 1998 and his last on July 3rd of 1999. That turned out to be the final time the popular driver sat in the winners circle as he soon retired from racing.
    Biondolillo and some of his longtime rivals always thrilled the fans with some side-by-side action in some of the most intense battles ever. His duels with the likes of Roger Maynor, "Downtown" George Brown, John Fortin, Tom Ryan, Chuck Hlatky and Tom Kraft will always be legendary. No matter how hot the racing and rivalries got the drivers would often get together on Sunday for a cookout and to watch the tapes of the war they raged the night before.
    For all his racing success and championships on the track Joey Biondolillo Jr. always put family first.  As Riverhead Raceway's Bob Finan recalls. "It didn't matter how big a particular win or championship Joey had just won, the first thing he did in victory lane was to seek out his family. He had to see his daughter Dina Marie and son Joey, as well his parents Joe Sr. and Barbara and brother Andrew first. 
  Without them the ceremony meant nothing" Joey's mother Barbara pre-deceased her son in December of 2002. Of course his long-time faithful race team and sponsors always became part of Joey's extended family, all of whom attended a special ceremony held in March of 2004.
    Long time rival George Brown, who along with Tom Kraft helped induct Biondolillo into the Suffolk Association of Figure Eight Racing Hall of Fame this past March noted, "Unfortunately we all knew this was coming." Brown, who is best known for his rough and tumble persona admitted, "I got the call at around 10:00 pm Thursday and I didn't sleep at all that night, it was very emotional".
    Tom Kraft noted, "Joey fought this cancer just the way he raced, hard and with everything he had. But in the end it proved to be too tough a foe and we all know he's in a better place now".
    Indeed Joey Biondolillo Jr. fought the ultimate fight for over three years.  That was just the way Joey approached racing and life itself.
    Joey had the words Crystal Blue painted on some of his racecars after the hit song by Tommy James in 1970. For Joey Biondolillo Jr. after his long valiant fight against a dreaded opponent we all hope it is all Crystal Blue Persuasion from here on.
    Thank you Joey for all the thrills and excitement you gave us over the years, rest in peace.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 19, 2004