RPW Column: Josh Pangrazio’s Late Return With New Car Sparks Added Competition At Land Of Legends

Column By: MARTY CZEKALA / RPW – CANANDAIGUA, NY – For the first seven weeks of the season, there was a notable name not on the entry list for competition in Land of Legends’ Street Stock division…Josh Pangrazio.

The defending Street Stock track champion had issues getting his new car for 2021, all set to go. I talked with Pangrazio in the pits before my assignment filling in as victory lane reporter and discussed his new baby for ’21.

“We sold our car last year to Rick Crego (a fellow Street Stock racer, 3rd in points),” Pangrazio told RPW. “With COVID and everything else, we had a real hard time getting parts for this car here. But, we finally got it here and get the bugs worked out of it.”

Due to rules changes from the offseason, Pangrazio had to switch over from a Ford to a Chevy engine. He had used a Ford engine since winning at Land of Legends last season and Genesee two years ago.

“With cylinder heads, it takes away the advantage of running a Ford. Chassis-wise, pretty much the same chassis. It’s just new. Suspension-wise, we’re pretty much the same as last year. We changed a few things up a little here and there, but other than that, it’s pretty much the same car.”

June 19th was supposed to be the first feature at Land of Legends for Pangrazio this season. Still, mother nature had her own plans raining out the night before the Street Stock feature. Nevertheless, hot laps and heats did take place, and Pangrazio claimed it was his first rundown with the new car.

“I felt really good in hot laps. We didn’t have to utilize any brakes, then come heat time, we had a brake issue. We were able to fix that and hopefully be good to go for tonight.”

Of course, Pangrazio expects his strongest opponent to be Jimmy Grant. The #36 has been strong, with four wins on the season and five top fives/tens. However, a rough outing last Saturday night took him out of the points lead, 28 back on Mike Welch.

“I enjoy racing with Jimmy and everybody here. Everybody’s a good group of guys to race with. It’s double points; I’m not gonna be in the way of everyone else’s situations. He’s running for a championship. I’m gonna mind my P’s and Q’s and hopefully go to the front.”

And that he did. In a hard-fought battle with Adam DePuy, Pangrazio came from 12th and held him off in the second half of the 20-lap feature.

“I’ve seen him once or twice coming out of turn 4. So there must’ve been something up top, but I didn’t want to give up the bottom to test it.”

Of course, Josh can’t do it without his fellow sponsors.

“I’ve got a lot of great people that support me. Skyline RV, RJ Shaffer Trucking, Cummins Trucking, Houseman Heating & Cooling, Gavenda Engines, Close Racing Supply, my buddy Josh and his wife Ashley, my girlfriend, and my mother.”