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Tommy Ingalls When you meet Tommy Ingalls, the first thing you notice is his warm smile and friendly demeanor. When you race against Tommy Ingalls, the first thing you learn is that you better bring your A-Game to the track. This man has been racing for a long time and is the consummate professional. Tommy started drag racing in 1978 with his 4-speed 1970 Mustang Mach 1. In the mid 80’s he spent a couple of years on the dirt track circuit and then returned to drag racing. In 1998, Tommy Ingalls was the NHRA Division 1 Super Pro Champion. The first year that Skyview opened Tommy was still racing up at Lebanon Valley, but he soon found his way to Tioga Center and has been with us ever since. Tommy brings his 1992 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to the track every week. Powered by a 540 cubic inch big block Chevy engine that puts out around 960 horsepower, Tommy’s Vette will do 5.50’s in the 1/8-mile and 8.30’s in the 1/4-mile. Tommy’s favorite memory from the 2007 racing season was beating 2006 Super Pro points winner Jim Cirigliano for the championship. Tied in the points after the final race, Jim wheeled his dragster into the lanes to face Tommy’s Vette in a run-off that would decide the season championship. “That’s what racing is all about,” said Tommy Ingalls as he collected his first Skyview Super Pro Points Championship. Tommy’s son Joey Ingalls also races at Skyview. This is Joey’s first year racing in Super Pro. Tommy also has a daughter Crystal, and another son Shawn. But Tommy credits his success to his wife Joi. “She makes me a better person, a better racer,” says Tommy. Joi is at the track every week with Tommy. She broke into tears of happiness as she watched her husband win the points championship, and was the first to reach him when he wheeled into the pits to celebrate with family and friends. Yes indeed Tommy, that’s what racing is all about!
Shane Garinger With his Fettuccine Alfredo simmering on the back burner, Shane Garinger took a few minutes away from his dinner preparations to reflect on the 2007 race season. His favorite moment? Cooking one of his specialties for his fellow racers at the Summit Bracket Finals. No wait, that was our favorite moment! On to racing. In his 10th year of drag racing, Shane started the 2007 season at Skyview in his trusty 1973 Dodge Challenger. With a 451 big block engine and 727 transmission, Shane’s estimates his car puts out around 550 horsepower. And he quickly drove his way into the top spot in the Pro Class. With a reasonable points lead late into the season, Shane & crew made their way West to pick up his new race car. Only a few races remained on the schedule when Shane unveiled his 1972 Dodge Dart. Powered by a 408 small block and 904 transmission, Shane climbed in to his new race car and drove himself into the finals his very first time out. Ask Shane what he loves best about Skyview and he’ll tell you about the “good times and great friends he’s made.” Shane is joined each week at the track by his parents, Wes & Bev Garinger, his wife Peggy, daughter Hannah, and sons Patrick and Chris. Shane tells us that Patrick turns 16 next year and wants to race in the Street class. His goal for his first year out? To beat Gino Mangino for the Street Points Championship. Get in line kid; Get in line! So what’s happened to Shane’s ’73 Challenger? Well, I have it on good authority that Wes Garinger will make his return to drag racing in 2008 at Skyview. The Garinger family will try to bring 3 racing teams to the track each week. Truly a family affair.
Gino Mangino Gino Mangino doesn’t like to talk about himself, but he loves to talk about racing. Every week, Gino makes his way up and down the pits to stop and visit with the racers. And he’s always willing to help his fellow racers out. One of his first races of the 2007 season was against a rookie street racer learning how to drag race in her SUV. After red-lighting against Gino, she made it through the buy-back round only to find herself line up against Gino again for round two. Totally psyched out, she looked over at Gino and there he was, smiling at her and pointing his two fingers at his eyes, giving her the signal to relax and just “watch the lights.” There were no red lights in round two, and even though the rookie still lost she came away with a lot more confidence for the next time she would race. When Gino climbs into his 1972 Chevy Nova, he is one of the first cars to pull into the Staging Lanes when the Pro Class is called. After his Pro Class race, Gino wheels his car through the pits and back down into the Staging Lanes where he is one of the last cars to show up for the Street Class. Gino is one of the few Skyview racers running 2 classes every week. And he’s done this at Skyview for all 4 years we’ve been open. Gino’s 2007 Street Points Championship earned him back to back championships in the Street Class. Gino bought his brand new ’72 Nova on October 18, 1971. He runs it with a 350 cubic inch, 30 over, small block Chevy engine with a 9.7 to 1 compression. Gino’s race car is totally street legal. He started drag racing in the early 70’s and then got back into it in 1991 and has been racing ever since. Gino sends a big “Thank You” to his wife Nancy for her support and understanding.
Champion Profiles provided by Kathy Willis
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2006 E.T. Champions Super Pro Jim Cirigliano Pro Ray Thurston, Jr. Street Gino Mangino Bike/Sled Lynn Major 2005 E.T. Champions Super Pro Jack Reome and Franc Francis Pro Jim Erecitano Street Ray Thurston, Jr. Bike/Sled Lynn Major |
