Szupka wins big at the 'Grove

Jack Matyas · 10-11-2010, 02:55 PM

Yeah , yeah - I know this is Stock and S/S but Stock / SuperStock / Comp racer Steve Szupka scored big at Maple Grove this past weekend by winning Comp . Am I a little biased - maybe as his father ( Phil Szupka ) and I have been friends for almost forty years .They ( car owner Frank Aragona Sr. & family ) allowed me to see everything there was to see all weekend - every quaifier - and every round I was with them and you can believe Steve won straight up by good planning and execution ( no pun intended ) of their plans - talk about teamwork - this team has it - everyone has responsibility . And then we can talk about Steve's driving -- he just didn't do dumb - period .

And here is the clincher - with both of his cars in the final ( with son Frank Aragona Jr. driving the other ) you could have asked me to bet the ranch on the fact that Steve was "Going in the Tank" and Frank Jr. was going to win because of "Team Orders" . Well think again as the final between these two was a real race - even NHRA Chief Starter Rick Stewart couldn't believe they were going to race - but it happened - the outcome - Steve won when Frank Jr. went red by a mere .010 and Steve was .017 green .

And the last picture says it all - its Frank Aragona 3rd .

Congrats to both the Szupka and Aragona families .................

Bob Bender · 10-11-2010, 03:40 PM

Great job Steve.........your just like DAD a Winner............

shawnfricke · 10-11-2010, 03:41 PM

Congrats Steve, Phil, Frank & Frank! Could not have happened to a nicer group of people!

The smile says it all!

Shawn

Ed Fernandez · 10-11-2010, 03:51 PM

Nice job Steve, Frankie Jr. and famalies.

10-11-2010, 04:09 PM

Congrats Buddy, couldn't happen to a better bunch of guys!! Your great year continues. Good luck the rest of the way. But enjoy the day!!!

Nitro Joe Jackson · 10-11-2010, 04:54 PM

Great job by Steve & Frankie, and 2 of the nicest families in drag racing !!!!

Dave Ribeiro · 10-11-2010, 06:12 PM

Great job by great people & families .... Congrats to all , yes you couldn't meet nicer people ..... Super National Win , enjoy
the moment .....

joe176 · 10-11-2010, 06:17 PM

Congratulations Steve.......Great Win !!!!!!!! for a nice guy !!!!!!

Steve Szupka · 10-11-2010, 07:53 PM

Thank you everyone so much! We had a great day for sure! It was just great to have both cars in the final. Thanks to the entire Aragona family and my parents as none of this could happen without them. The special part was it happened at Maple Grove. I grew up at that track watching my Dad race and looked up to so many of the guys I saw racing Stock, Super Stock, and Comp. To now race against a lot of them and to also win at Maple Grove was awesome. Winning is great but sharing it with your friends is the best!

10-11-2010, 02:55 PM	#1
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,900 Likes: 401 Liked 1,847 Times in 377 Posts	Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Yeah , yeah - I know this is Stock and S/S but Stock / SuperStock / Comp racer Steve Szupka scored big at Maple Grove this past weekend by winning Comp . Am I a little biased - maybe as his father ( Phil Szupka ) and I have been friends for almost forty years .They ( car owner Frank Aragona Sr. & family ) allowed me to see everything there was to see all weekend - every quaifier - and every round I was with them and you can believe Steve won straight up by good planning and execution ( no pun intended ) of their plans - talk about teamwork - this team has it - everyone has responsibility . And then we can talk about Steve's driving -- he just didn't do dumb - period . And here is the clincher - with both of his cars in the final ( with son Frank Aragona Jr. driving the other ) you could have asked me to bet the ranch on the fact that Steve was "Going in the Tank" and Frank Jr. was going to win because of "Team Orders" . Well think again as the final between these two was a real race - even NHRA Chief Starter Rick Stewart couldn't believe they were going to race - but it happened - the outcome - Steve won when Frank Jr. went red by a mere .010 and Steve was .017 green . And the last picture says it all - its Frank Aragona 3rd . Congrats to both the Szupka and Aragona families ................. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO Last edited by Jack Matyas; 10-11-2010 at 03:55 PM.

10-11-2010, 03:40 PM	#2
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,727 Likes: 1,585 Liked 452 Times in 88 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Great job Steve.........your just like DAD a Winner............ __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

10-11-2010, 03:41 PM	#3
shawnfricke Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 29 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Congrats Steve, Phil, Frank & Frank! Could not have happened to a nicer group of people! The smile says it all! Shawn

10-11-2010, 03:51 PM	#4
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Nice job Steve, Frankie Jr. and famalies. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

10-11-2010, 04:09 PM	#5
Todd Hoven Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Congrats Buddy, couldn't happen to a better bunch of guys!! Your great year continues. Good luck the rest of the way. But enjoy the day!!!

10-11-2010, 04:54 PM	#6
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 54 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Great job by Steve & Frankie, and 2 of the nicest families in drag racing !!!! __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

10-11-2010, 06:12 PM	#7
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Great job by great people & families .... Congrats to all , yes you couldn't meet nicer people ..... Super National Win , enjoy the moment ..... __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK

10-11-2010, 06:17 PM	#8
joe176 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NY Posts: 601 Likes: 36 Liked 41 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Congratulations Steve.......Great Win !!!!!!!! for a nice guy !!!!!! __________________ Joe Franco SS176

10-11-2010, 07:53 PM	#9
Steve Szupka Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 45 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Szupka wins big at the 'Grove Thank you everyone so much! We had a great day for sure! It was just great to have both cars in the final. Thanks to the entire Aragona family and my parents as none of this could happen without them. The special part was it happened at Maple Grove. I grew up at that track watching my Dad race and looked up to so many of the guys I saw racing Stock, Super Stock, and Comp. To now race against a lot of them and to also win at Maple Grove was awesome. Winning is great but sharing it with your friends is the best!