News Director 
RPW Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – BUCHANAN, NY – When his landscaping business got real busy year, Michael Giuliano had to step away from racing during the summer. Instead of parking the #51, car owner Pat Giuliano decided to race it himself.
“When Michael told me he had to take the time off to devote more time to his business, I was just going to park the car until he was able to return,” Pat said. “I was talking to Jerry Higbie about it and he suggested that I should bring it up to Accord Speedway and race it in the Rookie Division. Jerry helped out with some tires and I started racing. It was a lot of fun and I met so many great people up there.”
The team’s plans for the upcoming season are for Micheal to compete in the 5 race Rookie Sportsman schedule. If all goes well, Michael will graduate into the regular Sportsman after the June 20th event. if his business commitments will have him taking time off, Pat will once again have a go at it in the Rookie division at Accord.
“It’s all up to Michael how our season plays out. If he is able to do it, he will run the full season at OCFS,” Pat said. “If he has to step away, I will once again race it at Accord. I’m good with whatever decision Michael makes as far as him racing the full season.”
Pat is quite enthused about the upcoming season at OCFS.
“I think it’s great that Brett Hearn is involved at OCFS this year,” he said. “I see lots of good things happening there this year.”
Pat first got interested in racing back in the 80’s as a member of Chris Barger’s crew. He knew that eventually that he wanted to have his own car.
“Michael got his start in racing at age 10 racing motocross at the area tracks including OCFS,” Pat said. “He raced it for 9 years. In 2016, I acquired a Troyer car that I was going to race myself. The first night, Michael brought a lot of his friends to the track. He talked me into letting him race it. I gave him my fire suit, which was at least 2 sizes too big. But I actually got more enjoyment watching him race than if I was in the car myself.”
For 2017, the Giuliano team purchased a HigFab from Tyler McKee. For 2018, Pat put in an order for a new HigFab and it’s the car the team will be using again in 2020.
“Jerry is such a good guy to work with,” Pat said. He is a great person and so helpful to our team. He has become a good friend. Our team will only race a HigFab as long as we are racing.”
For the Giuliano team, the most important thing is to enjoy the time at the track.
“Neither Michael or I have a lot of experience,” Pat said. We both need much more seat time. We aren’t racing for points or money. Sure, I would like to see Michael take a win in the Rookies. But this is a hobby for us. Michael has worked hard at it, so I would like to see him rewarded with some success. Either way, we will enjoy ourselves.”
For 2020, Pat has a goal he would like to see the team achieve.
“I would like for Michael to be able to qualify for the Eastern States Sportsman race,” Pat said. “We timed okay, but didn’t fare well in the heat race. To be able to watch my son race on the big stage of Eastern States Weekend would be a big thrill.”
And Pat has something in mind for a couple of years down the road.
“My son and I were talking about how awesome it would be if maybe in a couple of years, we put together another car so that we could be in the same race together,” Pat said. “Not many racers get the chance to say that they ran in the same race with their son. It gives me chills just thinking about it.”
When a company sponsors the Giuliano team, one thing that they can always count on is that the #51 will always show it in immaculate condition with a sharp looking scheme. Sponsors include Healey Chevrolet (Poughkeepsie), D & M Home Improvements, Thalle Industries (Fishkill), Demolition Experts (Buchanan), Luposello’s Garage and Body Shop (Cortlandt), Stage Door Building Supplies (Fishkill), MG Lawn Care, and Eric Peckel-PFLP Corp.
In addition to help from Ralph DeGraw with set up, the Giuliano team crew members are John Horton, Rich Pierson and Andy Stradt.
Whether it’s Michael Giuliano racing at OCFS or Pat Giuliano racing at Accord, their goals are to get more experience, to have some fun and to have some success. It’s a pretty good set of goals for this father and son team to have.
