Grandview Speedway’s final race of 2008 — that’s the last time Chris Esposito visited victory lane. That is, until last Saturday, when he won the modified feature.
“Man, it was such an absolute grind,” Esposito, of Telford, Pennsylvania, said. “I know what it takes to win — money and the right pieces of the puzzle. For 17 years, I was lacking this or lacking that. I never had the funding, but I loved racing … that’s what kept me coming back and trying.”
For 25 years, Esposito has regularly raced his own modifieds at Grandview Speedway, competing at times in sportsman and at other moments in modifieds.
“My dad wanted me to own my own car,” said Esposito. “He wanted me to learn what it takes to pay for everything on my own. I bought a Bicknell frame back in 2000 … worked out deals for sponsorship, all on my own. I never had money — I am a township worker, a mechanic for the town’s heavy equipment.”
The difference maker? Dennis Becker, who had been loaning Esposito engines to keep him racing for the past two years.
“Dennis is a fan that also loves the sport,” Esposito said. “He gives back to racing — buying a tire or loaning an engine. He wanted to own his own car. When he did, he asked me to drive it. I told Dennis I would love to visit victory lane one more time in my career.”
Chris Esposito credited more than Becker, though, including his crew, wife, father, and sponsors. It takes a village to win, and Esposito quickly acknowledged that.
“When you win a race, everyone looks at the driver,” said Esposito. “I parked my car in victory lane for [my supporters]. I wanted them to feel what it is like to win and be on top for one night. It’s an awesome feeling and I wanted to share it.”
And, if anything, the victory gave Esposito some reassurance.
“Second time out and we won — you couldn’t write a better picture-perfect start to the season,” Esposito said. “I now know hard work pays off. The week-to-week grind, trying to get just one position better, it all paid off.”
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
