Riverhead Trucks to Honor Carl Rackoff and Joe DiGangi
September 13th
Two talented and popular figures in the Super Pro Truck pit
area at Riverhead Raceway will be remembered Saturday September
13th at the quarter mile oval when the class runs the Golden
Auto Body night 30, a time trial event for the "tailgate
brigade". Both Joe DiGangi and Carl Rackoff will be remembered
during the running of the race after their untimely passing
within the last year.
Carl Rackoff passed away during the off-season from a short
battle with cancer; Carl was a veteran figure in the pits at
Riverhead most recently confining his work in the Super Pro
Truck pit area to young female talent Erin Dumicich. Prior to
that Rackoff was formerly a NASCAR Official at the track, then a
sponsor as well as a Blunderbust and SPT owner. Ironically on
opening night Erin Dumicich nearly won the 20-lap main event
before spinning in fluid just ¾ of a lap shy of the storybook
victory.
The Super Pro Truck world was again saddened on Wednesday
August 13th when long time crew chief for Lou Maestri, Joe
DiGangi was stricken with a sudden heart attack. DiGangi steered
Maestri to two titles in the SPT ranks and going into the final
four races of the 2008 campaign the tandem is again atop the
standings. Aside from working with Maestri for over three
decades, Joe was the kind of personality that would help anyone
who asked, or even offered his services if not asked.
To honor these two giants behind the scenes in the Super Pro
Truck pit area, John Kirk, a sponsor on Maestri's truck and a
longtime friend of Joe DiGangi, will post $100, $75 & $50 to the
crew chiefs on the top three trucks across the line in memory of
DiGangi & Rackoff. Additionally Rich Giordano of G-Force
Collision is posting $100 for the truck that sets fast time,
joining the $100 already posted by Brigandi Brothers Automotive
of Nesconset.
"No question about it, Joe and Carl were both very prominent
and popular figures in the Super Pro Truck pit area especially
and as well at Riverhead Raceway," Bob Finan noted. "We lost
both of them way too early, but as they both would want us to
carry on that's what we'll do on September 13th, pausing to
remember and thank them for being a friend."
Joining the Super Pro Trucks are the Chargers and
Blunderbusts who are also racing in 30-lap, time trial events,
with the Figure Eights going 25-laps. All the features will
offer single points. The 2008 Miller Lite National Demolition
Derby worth $1,500 to the winner and a Full Size School Bus
Demolition Derby will also be on the card.
Qualifying will start at 4:30 pm with feature event racing
set for 6:00 pm. For additional information please call
631-842-RACE or visit
www.riverheadraceway.com.
Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead
Raceway PR
Posted:
August 25, 2008
