With Maple Grove Raceway celebrating its 25th year with the Toyo Tires Nationals this month, it’s appropriate that two of the NHRA’s legendary drivers will be immortalized at the track’s Walk of Fame.
 
Kenny Bernstein and John Force are part of the six-member class of 2009 that will have their names inscribed on bricks and displayed permanently along the Alfred S. Stauffer Memorial Walkway, which is located behind the pit side stands in the Manufacturers Midway.
 
Also being inducted is another NHRA legend, track announcer Bob Frey, along with Top Alcohol Dragster king Frank Manzo, retired Funny Car driver Joe Jacono, and local engine builder Lee Crupi.
 
Bernstein was already a Maple Grove veteran when the nationals arrived in 1985. After that, he won three times, once in Funny Car (1988) and twice in Top Fuel (1992 and 1996). It’s not surprising that he’s only one of two drivers – the other being Gary Scelzi – who has won season championships in both nitro classes.

Bernstein, Force to join Maple Grove Raceway’s Walk of Fame

With Maple Grove Raceway celebrating its 25th year with the Toyo Tires Nationals this month, it’s appropriate that two of the NHRA’s legendary drivers will be immortalized at the track’s Walk of Fame.
 
Kenny Bernstein and John Force are part of the six-member class of 2009 that will have their names inscribed on bricks and displayed permanently along the Alfred S. Stauffer Memorial Walkway, which is located behind the pit side stands in the Manufacturers Midway.
 
Also being inducted is another NHRA legend, track announcer Bob Frey, along with Top Alcohol Dragster king Frank Manzo, retired Funny Car driver Joe Jacono, and local engine builder Lee Crupi.
 
Bernstein was already a Maple Grove veteran when the nationals arrived in 1985. After that, he won three times, once in Funny Car (1988) and twice in Top Fuel (1992 and 1996). It’s not surprising that he’s only one of two drivers – the other being Gary Scelzi – who has won season championships in both nitro classes.
 
Force shares the distinction of having the most national wins in Maple Grove history. His six victories – 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1997 and 2001 – tied him with Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Angelle Sampey for the top spot. Those six victories also contributed to Force’s NHRA all-time records of 126 career victories and 14 points championships.
 
Frey has been a fixture at NHRA national events for decades, and is known to many as the voice of drag racing. He started his announcing career at Atco Raceway in New Jersey in the 1960s and has a deep knowledge of the sport’s history.
 
Manzo has won 10 of the last 12 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national championships in Top Alcohol Funny Cars. His first one was in 1981 and he has won 12 overall, including the last three. He has been a consistent winner at Maple Grove.
 
Jacono is best known for driving the “Rollin’ Stoned” Funny Car back in the 1970s, always challenging legends such as the late “Jungle Jim” Liberman on the strips. His driving career began in the 1950s and lasted through the mid 70s.
 
Crupi was part of a group that helped take drag racing off the country roads around Reading and convinced the Stauffer family to open a field on their property that became Maple Grove Dragway. After it was opened in 1962, Crupi used the strip to help develop a winning engine program that helped drivers set national records and win national events.
 
A formal presentation will be made during the Toyo Tires Nationals, which will be held Aug. 20-23.

 

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