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 Championships. 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 and "Rookie of the Year" at the Atlantic City Speedway and Wall Stadium. In 1974, at the Atlantic City Speedway, Tony won his first track championship driving the #T4 owned by his father and Tony Ruberti. During 1975 and 1976, 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/John Lyons to 6 wins, and the #21 owned by Sal DeBruno to 4 wins, winning every race that the 2 cars finished. The end result, 3rd 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. During the 1975 season, Tony and the Terruso team parted ways. At that point, 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 #22 and Tom Green's #71. After 4 modified seasons, Tony had 11 top 5 finishes including 3 second places, and 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, car owner 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. Midway thru the 1978 season, Siscone landed a ride at Wall Stadium driving the Fred Burdge #57. In ten races the #57 team had 3 top 5 finishes.

THEN....in August 1978, legendary car owner 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 charged 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 earned 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 1982, Siscone suffered 3rd degree burns to both hands after a fiery crash with Ray Evernham at the Martinsville Speedway. After skin grafts to both hands, Siscone returned to racing in 1983. The Barney/Siscone team goes on to win the NASCAR Championship at the New Egypt Speedway AND the Wall Stadium Modified Championship. THEN, in 1984 the Barney/Siscone team returned to Martinsville and WON the 1984 "NASCAR Cardinal 500 Modified 250". 1992 was the last season at Wall Stadium for the NASCAR type modifieds. From 1950-1992, Siscone ranked second in all-time wins in Wall Stadium's NASCAR Modified division. Gil Hearne was the winningest driver with 101 wins. In 1994, Siscone culminated his career in victory lane, after winning the 44th annual, "Sunoco Race of Champions 250" at the Flemington Speedway.

Through the years, Tony 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 also inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.