10 to Go with Scott Maliszewski
This week’s 10 to go is with driver of the No. 22 Blunderbust, Scott Maliszewski
How did you start racing?
Scott Maliszewski: My sister’s boyfriend did Enduros and I never saw one before I was in it and I ended up totaling the car before half a lap but, I got hooked right there. The second race we went out I finished 9th.
What did you do after your first race?
Maliszewski: From there I did a lot of out of state racing with Enduros we won races at Waterford and had good finishes in Middletown (NY). I went down to Florida, at Orange County Speedway, I raced a $10,000 race and I got disqualified.
How did you start in Blunderbusts?
Maliszewski: I used to sponsor Jack Handley Jr.’s father [former Blunderbust driver Jack Handley] and Jack used to do Enduros, so I lent him a car and then he started doing the Blunderbust and I helped him build his first car and then I just lost interest over there. After that I decided I would do it on my own, so I built a car myself and been there ever since. After the second year we started being contenders.
What tracks have you raced at?
Maliszewski: I raced at Waterford (CT), Manadnock (New Hampshire), Middletown (NY) on a dirt track, Mahoening Valley (PA). I won the first “Mother of Enduros” at Mountain Speedway (PA). There’s about 10 or 15 tracks we’ve been to I can’t remember them all.
What’s your favorite track?
Maliszewski: Waterford (CT) because we always seem to do good there, we always finish the race; we’re always in the top five. One year they didn’t like my car when I went there to run the Enduro. Because I came from so far they let me run with their street stocks, so I ran with their street stocks and I started dead last. And I got into second or third place in the first 5 laps; there were only 14 cars. I blew a belt off but the officials came up to me and told me to never bring that car there again.
What’s your worst track?
Maliszewski: My worst track is probably Monadnock Speedway (NH) because I could never get a handle of that track. I just always had a hard time with it, I rolled a car on my side there, and I never cared for it more after that.
What do you like about racing at Riverhead Raceway?
Maliszewski: It’s close to home, pretty much. I like to travel but I’m just getting too old to do it.
What’s been your best moment in your career?
Maliszewski: My first championship, a lot of the older drivers were there and it was something of an accomplishment. Things have changed too much, back then we all had fun, now a lot of these younger kids want to hit you or call their lawyers or the police and they took the fun out of it.
Do you have any superstitions?
Maliszewski: No, I eat peanuts in a green car. Everyone says I shouldn’t do it but, I defy them, I won championships in a green car, that’s all they are, superstitions.
Do you think you will be racing in the next 5-10 years?
Maliszewski: We’re hoping to build a truck, so I want to start doing that. I hope to get one done before its time [for me to] retire but, I think I’ll do one more year in the Blunderbust and probably that will be it. I’m trying to get my nephews into it, they’re doing Enduros, and I’m trying to get them some seat time.
You have a pig hanging out in your pits every week, who’s is it?
Maliszewski: That’s my nephew’s; I have nothing to do with that. He’s more famous than anyone here. I walk through the pits and nobody knows who I am but they know the pig.
Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com