Tommy Catalano (Photo: Polly Reid)
By Polly Reid
STAFFORD – The NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler may have been rain-delayed but at least it wasn’t snowing which is what it was doing in Tommy Catalano’s hometown of Ontario, NY. Sunday morning.
While Catalano is patiently waiting for the Race Of Champions Modified touring season to kick off, the upstate N.Y. driver has been getting his share of experience on track and after the Icebreaker at Thompson Motorsports Speedway Park, Catalano finds himself a stout competitor in the Whelen Modified Tour rookie chase.
“The last couple of years we’ve been going down to New Smyrna and we run the ROC Tour,” Catalano said. “New Smyrna helps us get geared up for the ROC and this is another opportunity where we can come here, get the name out a little bit more, then when we start racing back at home. We’ll have quite a few more races in and hopefully be able to get ahead and do good up there.”
Coming from a racing family, Catalano is the oldest of five sons to parents Amy and David Catalano.
“My mom and dad both race, but my dad has kind of gone more with helping us,” Catalano said. “I race against my Mom and younger brother. I have four younger brothers total (Timmy, Tyler, Trevor and Troyer). The next one down runs a four cylinder, then the other two run go-karts- we all race together. Like I said, my Mom and my next youngest brother, we all race against each other.”
Starting 23rd for the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, this is Catalano’s first trip to Stafford Motor Speedway.
“It is definitely a neat place, nothing like we’ve ever been at up in New York for sure,” Catalano said. “We kind of came into it blindfolded, we’ve never even been here to watch a race before, it’s definitely a learning curve. Hopefully at the end of 200 laps we’ll be somewhere on the lead lap and be able to finish.
“I’ve talked to a couple of people, the two biggest that have helped me the most has been Woody Pitkat and Jimmy Blewett. Just talking to those guys, getting different pointers, it’s been huge. They both have of laps here so that helps.”
Look for Catalano at the next Whelen Modified Tour event at Seekonk Speedway. After that, Catalano admits that while the ROC is the priority: “When it doesn’t conflict we’ll probably show up at some of the Tour races.”
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