These days, it seems like professional athletes are all chasing greed and glory.

Fortunately, there are exceptions. There are those like legendary Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank "Ace" Manzo.

Last Sunday at the United Association NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., Manzo captured his 80th NHRA national event win, but he remains humble.

"It was good to get a win, but this was just another win for me," said Manzo, who is from Morganville, N.J. "The competition keeps getting better and it's really hard to dominate. I just keep working hard each week so I can keep up with the competition."

He's the Conquerer of Top Alcohol, No Nitro in Future

These days, it seems like professional athletes are all chasing greed and glory.

Fortunately, there are exceptions. There are those like legendary Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank "Ace" Manzo.

Last Sunday at the United Association NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., Manzo captured his 80th NHRA national event win, but he remains humble.

"It was good to get a win, but this was just another win for me," said Manzo, who is from Morganville, N.J. "The competition keeps getting better and it's really hard to dominate. I just keep working hard each week so I can keep up with the competition."

The 56-year-old Manzo, who pilots a Lucas Oil-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo, will be in action Friday through Sunday at the SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.

"Englishtown is my hometown track and I've had a little bit of success there," Manzo said. "It's a tough track though, and I'm going to have to do my homework and make sure I'm ready to go."

Manzo leads the NHRA's Top Alcohol Funny Car national standings with 446 points. He has won 12 Top Alcohol Funny Car national championships, second only in NHRA history to John Force's 14 Top Fuel Funny Car world titles.

Challenging the likes of Force before he retires would seem logical for Manzo, but that's not in his plans.

"It would be a big deal to run a nitro funny car, but at this point in my career and at my age, I don't want to do it," Manzo said. "I like where I'm at and I don't want to change."

Manzo spends most of his time running the Ace Manzo Inc. construction business in New Jersey.

"We still run things the same way we did 30 years ago," Manzo said. "I work at the construction business five days a week and then the guys in my crew come over around 5:30 p.m. and we work on the car until 8 p.m. People think I have this big shop and 10 full-time employees and I don't. I have a bunch of guys who work full-time jobs and then volunteer to come help work on my car."

Manzo started his NHRA career in 1970 and then with the NHRA's inception of the Pro Comp class in 1974, Manzo found his home.

"I have guys who have been racing two to three years come up to me all the time and ask me how I drive the car like I do," Manzo said. "I ask them how may runs they've made and they say around 60 and I tell them make 3,440 more runs and you will find out how I do it. When you've made as many runs as I have, you get halfway decent at it. Plus, it also helps to have some luck, along with great sponsors and a great crew. It's a team effort. I don't know how long I will keep doing this, but I'm still having fun and I love to race." 

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