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NHRA: Amato wants another homespun win

12 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500 in 1998 after countless tries. The collective motorsports community cheered on the 'Intimidator' in an emotional chant.

A similar scene took place last season at Maple Grove Raceway when hometown hero Joe Amato finally won the one race that had dodged him during his career. In 15 years of NHRA national event racing at the speedy Pennsylvania quarter-mile, the 51-time NHRA Top Fuel winner had not visited the winner's circle at his home track. Oh, he had come close on several occasions, but victory somehow eluded him.

Last year, that all changed when Amato streaked to the win in front of thousands of his fans. Following the win, the five-time Winston champion wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. Not signifying the tireless efforts for the day, but rather, the culmination of 15 years of chasing a trophy that was really tough to grab.

Amato hopes to add a second Maple Grove Raceway trophy to his collection this season.

"I'm really glad that we were finally able to pull it off because when the time comes for me to hang up my driving suit for good, I don't want to come back to this track and say to myself, 'It's a shame that I never won a race here'," said Amato, the Top Fuel runner-up here in 1985, '89 and '91. "It was really neat to win for all of my friends and family and my employees at Keystone Automotive."

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.