Richard D. Moroso, commonly called “Dick”, was an American hot rodder,

drag racer Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most ...

, and businessman. 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. Moroso founded Moroso Performance Products, to supply aftermarket automotive parts to fellow hot rodders, in 1968, the year his son, Rob, was born. He served as son Rob's owner and sponsor for much of his racing career. Driving a 1961 Corvette, Moroso won one

NHRA The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsp ...

national title, in D/MP (D Modified Production), at the 1966 NHRA Nationals, held at

Indianapolis Raceway Park Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, and Lucas Oil Raceway) is an auto racing facility in Brownsburg, Indiana, United States, about northwest of downtown Indianapolis. I ...

. His winning pass was 13.32 seconds at . In 1981, Moroso purchased

Palm Beach International Raceway Palm Beach International Raceway (stylized as PBIR and formerly Moroso Motorsports Park) was a motorsports facility located west of Jupiter, Florida. The facility had a quarter-mile drag strip, a road course, 7/10-mile kart track as well as mud ...

, renaming it Moroso Motorsports Park. In 1982, Moroso spent $100,000 to upgrade the facility to host the opening event of the 1983

SCCA The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional ...

Trans Am Series The Trans-Am Series is a sports car racing series held in North America. Founded in 1966, it is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Primarily based in the United States, the series competes on a variety of track types includ ...

. In 1996, Moroso considered spending $2 million on a one-mile oval track for stock car racing, but those plans fell through. Moroso died from brain cancer in 1998.

Family

Moroso had a son, Rob, who raced in

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and ...

before he was killed while driving at more than twice the blood/alcohol limit in 1990. Dick had other children, Rick, who currently runs the company, and a daughter, Susan.

Notes

Sources

*Davis, Larry. ''Gasser Wars'', North Branch, MN: Cartech, 2003, p.185. {{DEFAULTSORT:Moroso, Dick Dragster drivers American racing drivers 1998 deaths Year of birth missing