May 10, 2022 — With the second annual American Speed U.S. Nationals at Kalamazoo Speedway just over three weeks away, it didn’t appear Joe Liguori would be participating in this year’s event until Monday afternoon.
Liguori was involved in a hard crash on the final lap of the Must See Racing Sprint Series event at South Boston Speedway on April 30. His machine was destroyed during a battle for second that took place coming to the checkered flag.
The only good news was that Liguori still managed to finish third despite a destroyed race car.
MSR did not tally points or award a series champion in 2021 due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, but had the series crowned a champion, Liguori would have been it.
Entering this season, Liguori was one of the favorites to win the title chase.
Liguori confirmed on Monday afternoon that he — along with his wife Lynsey, his daughter Emilee and Brad Ringer — was hard at work getting a new Bernie Hallisky built car ready in time for the Memorial Day Weekend.
“I’ve been building a non-winged car,” Liguori explained. “We did plan to run the new car with a wing a few times. With the circumstances now, that is now our primary wing car. We’ll get the Hurricane fixed when we can. The ‘X’ car will be making its debut at Kalamazoo.”
It’s no secret Liguori would like to claim the MSR championship and his most recent thrash to get the new car finished in time for the American Speed U.S. Nationals is evidence.
“I was talking to Bernie Hallisky and we were bantering back and fourth as to which car to run. I know we can win this championship. The non-wing cars are fun, but I have a lot more fun running the wing cars. They’re such fun cars to drive. We have a shot at winning this championship. Why don’t we keep chasing this. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re gonna be ready for Kalamazoo,” Liguori said.
Liguori also explained the South Boston wreck in detail as he remembered it.
“The motor was fading on longer runs. The last couple of laps I was just trying to make it to the end. I saw Jacob Dolinar up top of me a lap before. The way the track was you were committed on exit. I was lower than I normally was, and the car started pushing up the hill. Coming to the checkered I let it go because I figured if I could get it straight I’d beat him to the line because I thought I could horsepower him to the line.
“It got to where I knew that wasn’t gonna happen. I rolled out of the gas, and it took off to him. I don’t know, I still feel like I’m a little inexperienced at some of that stuff. When your wide open like that everything happens so quick. When I made contact, it just ricocheted me down into the inside wall,” Liguori said.
With a renewed sense of urgency and a new car, Liguori also hinted that a new look might be in store.
“Thanks to Indy Powder Coating, the car is gonna have a different look, but that’s all I’ll say,” he said.
Liguori will be competing against drivers from several different states, as entries continue to pile in for the two-day American Speed U.S. Nationals on May 27 and 28.