Joe Csiki

Competitor, Car Owner
CLASS OF 2005

Joe Csiki won his first race at the Plainville Stadium on June 6, 1961, and took down his last checkered flag on July 1, 1967. Before that first win he was turning heads as a talented driver, being named the 1956 United Stock Car Club Most Promising Driver, and the 1958 NEMA Rookie of the Year. He was the 1961 Non-Offy Owner Champion, and the 1962 Non-Offy Driver Champion. He followed up as the 1963 & 1965 NEMA Driver Champion. In 1964, he was named United Racing Club Rookie of the Year, and he was the ARDC Driving Champion in 1966.

Csiki listed two ARDC 100 lap races, one at Old Bridge and one at Wall Stadium, along with a 50 lapper at Trenton in 1966, as three of his biggest wins.

Joe was a talented man who did it all, excelling as a driver, as a mechanic, and as an owner. His work with stock blocks in midgets helped to end the domination of the Offenhausers. In fact, his ARDC Championship in 1966 marked the first time that a non-Offenhauser powered car had taken down the championship.

There’s no telling how many more honors Joe would have won, but his life ended tragically from injuries sustained at Bedford, PA Fairgrounds on August 21,1967 at only 31 years of age.