Jocko Maggiacomo

Competitor
CLASS OF 2000

The late Chauncey “Jocko” Maggiacomo won the first race he started, driving a motorcycle in Milbrook, NY, in 1931. In 1937, he drove his first midget, then switched to stock cars when he returned from serving in World War II. Jocko was so successful that in 1948, his first year back to racing, he won over $13,000.

In the 1930s racers had few of the safety features available for today’s stock cars. In a NEARNEWS interview in 1995, Jocko recalled strapping into his racer with an extra wide leather belt, while wearing a leather helmet that “wouldn’t do much more than hold my hair in place.” Finding that milk delivery tires were more durable than standard passenger tires, Jocko ran them until tires were made specifically for racing application.

Jocko was equally successful on both dirt and asphalt and became an early star for Harvey Tattersall‘s United Stock Car Racing Club. He is credited with winning 31 Saturday night features and three championships (1952, 1953, 1955) at Riverside Park Speedway, which at the time was the premiere United track in New England.

Jocko won the Riverside 500 team race 5 times with 5 different teammates. He won it in 1952 with Buddy Krebs, 1955 with Dick Dixon, 1958 with Jerry Humiston, 1964 with Bobby Bishop and in 1965 with Billy Greco. It turned out to be the last race in his illustrious career.

Maggiacomo had success at several United Tracks in the 1950’s, including Modified Championships at West Haven Speedway (1950, 1951) and Candlelight Stadium in Bridgeport, CT (1952). He also scored wins in both modifieds & late models at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

He was also very successful in the late model Grand American circuit sanctioned United. Most of his wins came while driving cars owned by Gordon Ross, Bob Oliver, and the Garuti brothers. Records show Jocko also competed at road course tracks like Lime Rock and Watkins Glen in the late 1950’s.

Maggiacomo remained active as developer of modern racing safety features. He died of natural causes in 1998.