Billy Greco (Photo: Provided by Stafford Motor Speedway)
Stafford Motor Speedway officials announced Friday that Modified racing legend Billy Greco will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 43rd NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler April 26-27.
Greco, who began his career in the early 50’s, recorded over 300 feature wins in his career, most coming at long since closed tracks like West Haven, Riverside Park Speedway, Plainville Stadium and others. He was also a winner at Stafford.
“I had good times and bad times, but it was mostly good times as far as racing went,” Greco said in a release. “My big track was Riverside. I did a lot of racing at Stafford too but I couldn’t keep up with guys like [Maynard] Troyer, [Geoff] Bodine, and Bugsy [Stevens] because I didn’t have the money and the equipment that they did.
“I wish I had been able to do a little better at Stafford that I did. It’s a great honor for me to be the Grand Marshal of the Spring Sizzler, I’ve never been asked to do something like this before. I’ll certainly treasure the opportunity.”
Greco was a 1999 inductee to the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame.
Two-time Stafford Speedway Late Model champion and longtime track official Chuck Zentarski was part of Greco’s crew as a youngster.
“He was just a kid and he came up to my brother George one day and asked if he could help out and become part of the crew,” Greco said of Zentarski. “We had Chuck’s name on the side of the car along with the rest of the crew and my brother taught Chuck everything he knows about cars.”
Good Old West Haven Speedway. where my mother and father met and I got to have fun on Saturday nights occasionally as a kid. Belbusti, Greco, Cambino, Hines, and many others that made their way through there. Wish I could be there Mr Greco! Congrats.
You have earned this honor. Good Luck