Tony Siscone

Tony Siscone (born March 25, 1950) was an asphalt modified racecar driver from 1972 through 1994.

He was raised in the Collings Lakes section of Buena Vista Township, New Jersey. A resident of Hammonton, New Jersey, he graduated from Hammonton High School in 1967 and from Rider University in 1971. Siscone was a high school teacher for 17 years. In 1976, he married Margaret, "Margi", Clark from Berlin, NJ. After receiving the "Governor's Teacher of the Year" award in 1987, Siscone and his wife ran a racing safety equipment business, "Safety Connection", for 14 years. Tony and Margi have two children, born in 1978 and 1981.

Racing career

Tony Siscone began his racing career driving go-karts between 1962-1969. He had 90 victories, gaining numerous IKF State and Regional go-kart titles. Siscone and his father, Tony Sr., competed several times in IKF National Championship go-kart events against factory backed teams, twice finishing in the top 6.

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. Tony won his first track championship in 1974, driving the T4 owned by his father and Tony Ruberti at the Atlantic City Speedway. During 1975-76 Siscone drove the #65 car owned by John Lyons and powered by a Tom Skinner/Lyons Chevy racing engine to 12 victories and his 2nd championship. In 1978, Tony drove the 21X owned by Edward Brown to 6 wins, and the 21 owned by Sal DeBruno to 4 wins, winning every race that the 2 cars finished, resulting in the track championship at the Atlantic City Speedway.

From 1973-1975 Siscone struggled to get his Modified stock car career on track. The Terruso brothers gave Tony his first opportunity to compete in the modified ranks but the team lacked the finances to compete with the top teams. In the '75 season Tony and the Terruso team parted ways, and Tony drove for anyone who would to give him a chance. In 1976, Siscone drove for car owners, on a part time basis, Gary Shelly/Skip Pardi and Tom Green. After 4 modified seasons Tony had 11 top 5 finishes including 3 second places, but no wins. In 1977, fellow Hammontonian Frank Ransom offered Siscone a chance to wheel his state of the art, controversial #0 NASCAR Modified. The Ransom/Siscone Team won 3 modified events with a 355 ci small block Chevy engine against the big blocks at Wall Stadium and NASCAR's New Egypt Speedway. In April 1978, opening night at Wall Stadium, the Ransom/Siscone team won the modified main event. The following Wednesday, Frank Ransom died at the age of 44. This was a very emotional and sad time for Tony and the Ransom team. Once again Siscone was available for anyone who would give him a chance to continue his racing career.

In August 1978, Dick Barney, his son Robert and Hoyt Morrison offered Tony a chance to drive their 6-year-old #14 modified car during the last 5 races of the season at NASCAR's New Egypt Speedway. Siscone finished all 5 races in the top 5. The Barney/Morrison team wrapped up the 1978 season at Wall Stadium's annual Turkey Derby where Siscone charge from 23rd to finish 5th. After the derby, Tony was hired by Team 14 to drive full time in 1979. Tony Siscone continued to drive the #14 for the next 16 1/2 years. During his 22 years behind the wheel, Tony started 794 races and collected 151 victories, finished 2nd 121 times and 3rd 107 times. 48% of his career finishes were in the top 3. He gained 12 track championships: 6 at Wall Stadium, 3 at Atlantic City Speedway, 2 at NASCAR's Flemington Speedway, and 1 at NASCAR's New Egypt Speedway. In 1983, the Barney/Siscone Team won the New Egypt Speedway NASCAR Championship, finishing in the top 3 in every race. Siscone also won the 1984 NASCAR Cardinal 500 at the Martinsville Speedway, 2 years after receiving serious burns to both hands at the Martinsville track after being involved in a fiery crash with Ray Evernham. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Siscone ranked second in all-time in wins at Wall Stadium's NASCAR Modified division, behind Gil Hearne. Siscone culminated his career with a victory in the 1994, 44th annual, "Sunoco Race of Champions" at Flemington Speedway.

Siscone received the "Fred DeSarro Sportsmanship award" and the "Dick Toby Tobias Memorial award".

In 2000, Siscone was voted 17th in the Area Auto Racing News' "Top-25 Asphalt Modified Drivers of the 20th Century". He was inducted into the National Old Timers Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Garden State Stock Car Club's Hall of Fame in 2001. In January 2013 Siscone was inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.