[SS/GSI]

Our deepest condolences to Peter, Sal and the entire Biondo Family. Mr. Biondo was one of a kind, and will leave a void in the sport we love called drag racing.

Quick story:

When Sean and I started racing the Chevy II in the early 2000's, our first divisional event ever was the Atco race in May. We pitted between Jim Daniels(who had just bought the AH car) and Mr. Biondo. Needless to say the weekend was extremely entertaining with Jim and he's still a great friend to this day; however pitting beside Mr. Biondo was like sitting down at a shared table in a pub in the Bronx and having Derek Jeter or any great Yankee sit beside you! He came over and we chatted throughout the weekend like he had known us forever. Sean and I wanted to go to Indy that year and were trying to acquire as many grade points as we could to get in(back then you needed 5 or 6 to even think of going and the quota was 200!). At the end of the weekend we exchanged #'s and a couple weeks later I grew up the courage to call him. He answered right away, I asked if he remembered me, he said of course, asked how everyone was and if he could do anything for me. I said, actually there is...I asked him if he would enter and drive Sean's car at Indy, if we could not acquire the necessary grade points to get in. He said he would love to. He entered Indy, never asked us for the entry fee, and as luck had it, we were able to get in with 5 grade points the day it opened up! Mr. Biondo withdrew and I told him how honored and thankful I was of his gesture. Since that time, I always made a point of seeing him at the track and catching up.

I am sure my story is a drop in the bucket of the amazing and generous stories of Mr. Biondo. God Bless and RIP