LIGUORI RETURNS TO GORMLY’S RIDE FOR FRIDAY’S ROLLIE BEALE CLASSIC AT TOLEDO
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
A familiar car has a new face this Friday night at Toledo Speedway as veteran driver Joe Liguori has taken over the reins of the Fred Gormly/RPM USAC Silver Crown car for the upcoming Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness “Rollie Beale Classic.”
The Tampa, Florida native has made four USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series presented by TRAXXAS starts this season, all in his own No. 4, including a season-best sixth-place finish in June at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway.
Liguori has been one of the rare breed this season, competing on both the dirt and pavement surfaces in the same car. For Toledo, however, Liguori assumes the role of the No. 98 for Gormly, a purpose-built machine for paved surfaces. The team fielded a car in 2016 for Chris Windom, who would drive the No. 98 to three wins and the series’ driver’s title.
Liguori is substituting for regular driver Davey Hamilton, Jr., who has commitments this weekend to participate in a Robby Gordon Stadium SUPER Truck Series event in Beijing, China. The Hamilton name will remain present, though, as Liguori will be teamed alongside Davey Jr’s father, 11-time Indianapolis 500 starter Davey Hamilton, who will drive Gormly’s No. 99.
Joe, the grandson of four-time USAC Sprint Car feature winner Ralph, does have previous experience in Gormly’s Champ Car. He made two starts for the team spanning two seasons, both on the dirt: a 7th at Eldora in September of 2013 and an 11th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May of 2014.
Liguori will be making his Toledo Silver Crown debut. However, back in 2006, Liguori did make USAC National Midget start there in Margaret Owen’s No. 28, winning his heat and finishing 16th in the feature.
Pits open for Friday’s race at Toledo at 1:30 with two sessions of Silver Crown practice scheduled from 4:30-5pm and 5:25-5:45pm. Silver Crown ProSource Qualifying is set for 6:45 while the night’s racing program will get underway at 7:30pm (Times Subject to Change).
Advance adult tickets are just $20, but $25 if purchased on the day of the event. Advance sales end at 5pm Thursday, July 27. Children Age 6-12 can receive admission for $3. Children 5 & Under are FREE! (All seating is general admission). Pit passes are $30 for USAC members and $35 for non-members.
TOLEDO “ROLLIE BEALE CLASSIC” ENTRY LIST
07 JACOB WILSON/Crawfordsville, IN
Wilson Brothers Racing/Wilson’s Towing – D.D. Eyes/Beast/Claxton Toyota
6 ®DAMION GARDNER/Concord, CA
Klatt Enterprises/Klatt Motorsports – East Enterprises/Beast/Ford
15 ®TROY THOMPSON/Brooksville, FL
Troy Thompson/TTI Machine – Dayton Andrews Dodge-Jeep-Chrysler/Beast/Chevy
20 JERRY COONS, JR./Tucson, AZ
Gene Nolen Racing/KECO Coatings/Beast/Tranter Chevy
22 BOBBY SANTOS/Franklin, MA
DJ Racing/DJ Racing – Simpson Race Products/Beast/Chevy
26 AARON PIERCE/Muncie, IN
Sam Pierce/Sam Pierce Chevrolet – G & G Racing Fuel/Beast/Chevy
32 ®JOSS MOFFATT/Columbus, IN
Williams & Wright Racing/E3 Sparkplugs – Lucas Oil/Jazz/Williams
39 ®MATT GOODNIGHT/Winchester, IN
Goodnight Racing/The Pallet Builders – Benic Enterprises/Beast/Claxton Chevy
40 DAVID BYRNE/Shullsburg, WI
Byrne Racing/Stoops Freightliner Truck Country - Bytec, Inc./Beast/J & D
63 KODY SWANSON/Kingsburg, CA
DePalma Motorsports/Radio Hospital - Hampshire Racing Engines/Beast/Hampshire
80 ®ANNIE BREIDINGER/Hillsborough, CA
Breidinger Motorsports/Royal Purple Oil Company – Nu Ritual/Beast/Chevy
81 ®CODY GALLOGLY/Pataskala, OH
Curtis Williams/Jack’s Auto Body – Roger Williams Precision Engines/Big Car/Williams Chevy
91 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA
Hemelgarn-Carli Racing/Hemelgarn Enterprises - Carli Motorsports/Beast/Ford
92 CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL
Kazmark Racing/Project Healing Waters – Remin Kart-A-Bag/Beast/Ford
98 JOE LIGUORI/Tampa, FL
RPM-Fred Gormly/America’s Best Value Inn – Aerojet/Beast/Mopar
99 DAVEY HAMILTON/Boise, ID
RPM-Fred Gormly/Guts Wear – Hoosier Tire/Beast/Chevy
120 ®JOE AXSOM/Franklin, IN
Gene Nolen Racing/KECO Coatings/Beast/Tranter Chevy
® USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series Rookie of the Year contender