John Mazza

Chief fabricator

I was 10 years old when I attended the modified race at Islip Speedway that stole my heart, injected big blocks thundered into the turns and the assortment of fuels in the air burned my eyes. Words fail to describe the way I felt but every part of open wheel modified racing excited me and captured my imagination.

When I was 16 years old I bought my Nascar license and helped a guy from town, Butch Micika # 18. I had no mechanical ability at this time. Before this involvement I used to sit in the stands and sketch pictures and give them to my favorite drivers or just interested people.

The mini stock division developed mostly Volkswagens in 1978 with the help of Micika’s team and other friends; I built my first racecar. Freeport, Islip and Riverhead are where I campaigned.

Seekonk Raceway saw us once that year, as well (WOW did we get beat). The mini stocks were evolving very fast so to keep up, Nascar changed their name to mini modified. Strong runs were common and some qualifying race victory’s came that year energizing us and catapulting us forward. The second and third years were more difficult for us. The cars became very competitive and we got out in 1980. Steve Park was a regular at the time.

A long string of pit crew work, race bodybuilding and handling work is what came next. I ended up on a modified crew with Freddy Harbach up through 1991. Then I bought another mini modified. Walt Stadium in Jersey is where I raced and won my first feature event. I took home $350.00 for my efforts that night.

That spring my daughter was born, and racing had to be sidelined for a season. The follow year I spent with Mike Petrizzo on a Pro Four Modified, where I was acting as crew chief. Riverside Park was our steady date and select touring shows, when money would permit. When 1992 closed, we were 4^th overall in points, the learning curve was difficult, but 4^th was satisfactory considering we were going from New Jersey to New England. During the next three years, I continued to work with Petrizzo and campaign the Pro Four. All the while I was building bodies for various drag, oval and custom cars. Honing this craft as much as possible. The end of 1995 brought a Riverhead sponsorship on a full-blown modified for Petrizzo, and I accepted the duties of crew chief/fabricator and letterer on the team. It was a whole new ballgame, we struggled, but a tough night of racing is a better than a good day at work. That winter effectively ended my driving career, when a tumor was found and removed from my head.

The years of 1996-1997 were recuperation years; the only duties I would have would be as radio spotter for John Shortel, a late model and pro truck competitor. During the winter of 1997, I joined Gary Cretty Motorsports and fabricated cars for driver, Jan Letty, then George Kent, and finally on Tony Hirshmanns championship car. During this time it was difficult to keep up on the work fabricating, lettering and designing cars out of Barry Cannells shop in Connecticut.

One of my customers, Eddie Partridge of TS Motorsports had me build a prototype tour modified body, and also to letter and stripe his truck fleet. Needless to say with this team the work goes on and on. I enjoy building cars for TS because I’m able to be creative by trying my new ideas. Bo Gunnings Featherlite Modified #09 is a unique ride, be sure to check it out.

John Mazza