The Carbone’s: A Racing Tradition

Tony (31), Dylan (13), Louis (3) and Chris (17) - Sara Carbone Photo

The Carbone family is well known for racing on tracks throughout Western New York and it continues with the next generation right here at the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex.  There are currently five Hornets under the Carbone Racing name and one National Overhead Door Pro Modified that call Holland home each race night.

Joe Carbone returns to the racing game this season after spending the last couple of seasons getting the Hornet cars ready to race for the next generation. Joe drives for car owner Gene Stevenson in his Stevenson Paints, Vic’s Auto Service 31. Before hoping in the Modified, Joe was a competitor in the then “new” class here at the Speedway, the Late Models of Tomorrow (LAMOT). After taking a few years off to help get the young Carbone’s get their racing careers started, Joe came back this season. One thing that you didn’t know about Joe, “I have finished second in points twice and I have never one a track title” said the elder Carbone. And now it is time to meet the next generation of racing Carbones.

Tony (31) and Chris Powers (17) Sara Carbone Photo

Tony Carbone campaigns the familiar Carbone Orange 31 Hornet. The 1997 Honda Civic is wrenched by Dad Joe Carbone, Brother Josh Carbone, and Cousin Tim Boyce. The Carbone entry is sponsored by Vic’s Auto Service, Aurora Service & Sales, Guardian Fence, Cabaret Restaurant, TK’s Pizza, Done Rite Lawn & Landscaping, and C&B Towing.

Tony is in his second full season of competition in the Hornet division after a partial season in 2009 and his rookie campaign last season. Before getting behind the wheel, Tony was behind the wrenches, working on his dad’s Late Model since 2004. “That was when I was old enough to be in the pits” said Tony and he has been at the racetrack every Saturday since he could walk. Tony currently has two career victories to his credit, both coming three weeks apart last season as he won his first career race on August 14^th and backed it up with a win on August 28^th. Tony was the 2010 Rookie of the Year in the Hornet division as well as taking home the Best Appearing Car Award as well as winning the Best in Show Award at the McKinley Mall Car Show, held earlier this season.

Tony says that he is in the Hornet class “to get my feet wet and to just learn out there”. For 2011 his goal is to improve on last year’s 3rd place in points. If any moving up were to happen for Tony, it would be to the charger class, “I’m not sure how soon but we will see”, said Carbone.  Tony continued to say that “Holland does a good job organizing there events and letting us drivers take part in events outside of the track such as the Erie County Fair and the McKinley Mall show. They have their schedule out early and with NASCAR sanctioning it certainly helps. Even something as simple as paved pits, lighting, and power makes a big difference to race teams. But for the Hornet 4-cylinder division Holland is the best. You realistically can’t have the playing field leveled any more than it is in the Hornets”.

Racing is in their blood, everything they did as kids was who could do it fastest. From the Big Wheels “domination at Lancaster” to the five that have full size race cars, “It’s something we all love to be a part of, my family is very close. So far we have been pretty supportive of each other, racing is a competitive thing so tensions flare at times but we will all be back at the shop laughing about it the next day” said Tony.

One of the five Carbone entries in the Hornet division is Chris Powers. Chris is behind the wheel of the 17 hornet which is a 1995 Honda Accord. Chris’s sponsors in 2011 include The Well Bar and Grille, L.A. Woolley Electric, Grasers Ceramics, Chicken ‘n Pizza Works, District Council #4, Pro Fireplace, M&M Property Maintenance and Vic’s Auto Service. The Orchard Park native would like to thank his crew; Nick, Jon and Ray Powers for all their hard work in the garage during the week and at the track each weekend.

Powers is in his third year of racing, all in the Hornet division and he has no plans on moving up just yet. “If I were to move up, it would likely be to the Chargers “said Powers. Chris’s rookie season was a memorable one as he strung together three consecutive top three finishes to propel him to the top ten in points after suffering two DNFs (did not finish), including one on double points night.

Chris’s expectations for the 2011 racing season is to “keep my car in one piece and bring home my first victory”. About racing here at Holland, Powers said that “there is a solid car count every week and that everyone gets along with one another”. He also said that “I get to race on a surface that was host to many greats and two of them being my uncles, Lou and Joe Carbone”. Chris enjoys competing against his cousins each and every Saturday night. “It makes it that much more fun to race, just like the old days when we all raced big wheels at Lancaster (Dunn Tire Raceway Park)”.

The team has a set of brothers in it with Dylan and Louis Carbone. Dylan is behind the wheel of the two-toned 13 Honda Civic. The 13 machine is sponsored by Vic’s Auto Service, All Metal Inc., Dagofast Fabrication, Lolgate Industrial, Buffalo Granite and Marble and Massage Suite and Spa. Dylan is in his second full year of racing. Dylan drives in the Hornets because “it’s cheap and I am still learning”. Learning to compete is a big goal for most racers and to the entire Carbone crew it’s the way to be successful. Dylan is hoping to pick up a feature win this year but he says “there’s always next year”. Like his cousins, Dylan would like to move up to the Charger class because “it’s great racing”. Dylan likes Holland because “how everyone knows everyone. Sometimes, its not always a good thing but it does have its benefits”. Those benefits being that everyone is willing and able to help them whenever in need of it.

The Carbone Hornet team added two more members in 2011 as Louis Carbone and Cousin Tim Boyce put cars together. Louis is behind the wheel of the blue number 3 Honda Civic. The Dagofast Fabrication, The Message Sweets and Spa sponsored machine has only been on the race track for just a few weeks. Louis has been driving for a year and a half and says it’s a “family event” when asked about racing in the Hornets. “It’s also affordable and fun” said Louis. His expectations this season is to have fun and share all the memories of the year with his friends and family. “The adrenaline rush of racing at Holland is out of this world” when talking about racing here on the 3/8^th’s high banks. Louis doesn’t have any plans on moving up, but he did say it would be the Chargers “when the time is right”. Cousin Tim Boyce is just getting behind the wheel of the 4 Cylinder Hornets. Tim drives the number 12 and is just out there for some seat time and will be a strong threat in 2012 here at Holland.

The Carbone name has a lot of racing history with it. The Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex has history as many great drivers have called Holland home over the years and now we are looking towards the future of racing and right here in front of our own eyes, we see the Carbone continuing on their racing tradition.