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Pro Stock driver Tony Basalone got his start driving a racecar after watching for years from the grandstands.  It was with particular interest in spectator drags that he decided to go from bench racing to actually driving a racecar.  At the young age of 47 Basalone remembers his first few years in a racecar. “I was the worst driver ever,” he says chuckling. “I was always spinning out and running real slow." Tony says he was so bad that during a slow heat, even after starting on the pole, he ended up last in a 10-lap race.

Still he was having fun, but after a while he tired of running a slow car. Tony teamed up with Corky Lathrop who owns Ken Lee Well Drilling. The two entered into a racing partnership, put some money in for upgrades on the car and won Rookie of the Year at Dixie Speedway. They also finished third in points at both Auto City and Dixie Speedway before they decided to venture to other tracks.

Tony hadn't driven at Owosso until a Tommy Bowl's memorial race that was held at the Big O. “It was a long drive to Owosso Speedway,” he recalls, but Basalone fell in love with the track and he has decided to make Owosso Speedway home for the 2009 season.  Last year, Tony ran six races at Owosso Speedway with a streak of three second place finishes in the No. 32 Pro Stock (formally Sportsmen).

This year Tony will be running a full schedule at Owosso Speedway as well as Dixie Motor Speedway. “My goals for 2009 are fairly simple,” he said.  “I expect to be good and I need to finish races.  If I don't tear up the car and have some wins, I could make a run at both championships at Owosso and Dixie."  The only real change this year, however, will be the number on the side of the car - No. 69.

Tony is married to Shelly and has two children Candice age 23 and Anthony age 19. He also has two grandchildren who often come out to watch grandpa race.  Tony is involved in his community and is participating in the parade at the ‘Summer Happening’ in Linden on June 27, 2009. “It's a way to get out there and bring some more fans to the track,” Tony said.

He hopes to be able to bring the racecar to each of his sponsors for a day to let the fans have an up close view. “With the economy the way it is, it's hard to find sponsors so if you have them you should take care of them,” Tony said. This is some pretty good advice for any up and coming drivers out there. He tells young drivers “to have fun, and don't over drive the car."

Tony is also an accomplished chef and his favorite dish is Spaghetti. Mmmm, I can't wait to try some!
When asked what would surprise race fans about Tony he replied “I'm in bed and asleep by 10 p.m. during the week and I always drive the speed limit.” When Tony and his wife Shelly are driving up north she prefers to drive saying that Tony drives too slow. One day a while back Tony was working in Detroit and his father in law Vic passed him on the highway. Vic called Tony later saying “I can't believe you’re a racecar driver going that slow."

Basalone's most memorable race was his first feature win at Dixie.  "It was in the early 90s," he recalls. "We had a full field of cars probably 24 or 26 cars. I started 8th or 9th with the invert and I starting passing everyone on the outside," he said. "You never forget that first win!”

Tony would like to thank his sponsors: Ken Lee Well Drilling, Shannons Auto Collision, Image Projections, Metro Fab., Transmissions by Eldred Brothers and Rays Well Drilling.
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