Dick Moroso

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Richard D. Moroso, commonly called “Dick”, was an American hot rodder, drag racer, and businessman.[1]

Moroso grew up in Old Greenwich CT and started selling speed parts out of his family's basement in the early 1960s under the name Speed Associates. In the mid 1960s, Moroso and then partner Hank Dietrich opened Performance Automotive in Stamford CT.[2][3]

Moroso founded Moroso Performance Products, to supply aftermarket automotive parts to fellow hot rodders, in 1968, the year his son, Rob, was born. [2][3]

He served as son Rob's owner and sponsor for much of his racing career.[2][3]

Driving a 1961 Corvette, Moroso won one NHRA national title, in D/MP (D Modified Production), at the 1966 , held at Indianapolis Raceway Park. His winning pass was 13.32 seconds at 103.21 mph (166.10 km/h).[4]

In 1981, Moroso purchased Palm Beach International Raceway, renaming it Moroso Motorsports Park.[5] In 1982, Moroso spent $100,000 to upgrade the facility to host the opening event of the 1983 SCCA Trans Am Series.[6]

In 1996, Moroso considered spending $2 million on a one-mile oval track for stock car racing, but those plans fell through.[7][8]

Moroso died from brain cancer in 1998.[7][8]

Family[]

Moroso had a son, Rob,[9] who raced in NASCAR before he was killed while driving at more than twice the blood/alcohol limit in 1990.[10] Dick had other children, Rick, who currently runs the company, and a daughter, Susan.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars (Cartech, 2003), p.185; [1]
  2. ^ a b c Purkey, Mike (February 25, 1990). "Stock Car Racing`s Next King?: Only 21, `Crown Prince` Rob Moroso Gets Big Buildup". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune, Knight Ridder Newspapers. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Automotive Entrepreneur Dick Moroso Succumbs to Cancer". Dragracecentral.com. Guilford, Connecticut: Autosales, Inc. November 9, 1998. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  4. ^ Davis, p.185; [2]
  5. ^ "Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved Feb 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved Feb 13, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Palm Beach Post - News from The Associated Press". Nl.newsbank.com. May 20, 2002. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  9. ^ Lazzarino, Chris. "Nascar Driver Moroso Is Killed In Highway Crash". sun-sentinel.com. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Through The Lens: Rob Moroso". National Speed Sport News. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-20.

Sources[]

  • Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars, North Branch, MN: Cartech, 2003, p.185.
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