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Joe Morrison Nitro Pilot
Joe with Big Al Liebmann , car owner's,Rocky Pirrone & crew at Raceway Park .
Joe Morrison from Warren, New Jersey wears many hats,he is a successful businessman running his own landscaping company full time. He also plays guitar in a rock band and he also drives a string of Nostalgia Drag Racing Cars . As of 2020 he is the NHRA's newest Top Fuel driver for Team Leverich.
In the beginning of January we had a great conversation where we discussed how Joe got started in Drag Racing , who his hero's were growing up,who helped him along the way and of course the great cars he got to drive on the way up to Top Fuel status .
Joe said he was going to the Drag Races since before he was born. Really! His mom was working in the timing tower at Island Dragway while she was pregnant with him,and his Dad worked the starting line when he wasn’t racing in Jr. Stock, Stock Eliminator or Super Stock.He kept going to the track as a family even after his dad had to stop racing for financial reasons. Joe stated he grew up watching drivers like “The Snake,” Force, “Mongoose,” Garlits, Muldowney & Manzo. As a young child,his most favorite driver was “Jungle” Jim,and he knew that driving a fuel car had to be the coolest thing ever and from then on Joe knew he wanted to be a race car driver.
After some experience racing my four-speed Chevelle street car and a 10
year break from racing to chase a music career as a rock guitar player, I
had an amazing opportunity to drive a wild seven-second Fiat Altered
with a great group of racers in a nostalgia club called the North East
Timing Organization. From 2007-2013 we consistently finished in the top
10, won a class championship in 2011 and finished second (by just one
round!) in 2012. While I loved racing with the NETO organization, I knew
it was time to begin seriously working toward my goal of becoming a Top
Fuel or Funny Car driver.
Joe is the driver of The Super Camaro crewed by Rocky Pirrone.
Photo's by : Mike Salemme 2019
Joe racing against the Winged Express at Bakersfield
In 2014, thanks to some help from his friend and local legend Paul Gold a.k.a. “Goldy” and a recommendation from Jim and Jon Oberhofer’s dad (Dave O) He had the opportunity to go to Bakersfield and license in Jerry Darien’s A/Fuel dragster. Jerry was an amazing teacher! Over the course of two days Joe said he made five runs.
The final run earned his Top Alcohol license,at that time the quickest and fastest run the car had ever made! Thanks to that success and the recommendation of friends Goldy and nostalgia funny car driver Bob Toth,he began driving Ted Brine’s #134 Fuel Coupe AA/Fuel Altered and the Frantic Ford nostalgia Nitro Funny Car.
Joe is grateful for the experiences and the friendships he forged while match racing from 2015 through last year. In the #134 we raced a few Hot Rod Reunions as well as some great match races,including running against Mike Boyd in the “Winged Express”. In the Frantic Ford there were plenty of great match up's, but the most memorable were the times I got to race NHRA champ Bruce Larson. He can’t believe he's been lucky enough to race with these legendary drivers!
Throughout all these experiences, I have consistently worked hard to find a way to work my way up to driving a Fuel car on the Camping World series. Not having a wealthy family or a last name like Force, Schumacher or Kalitta has made it a challenge for sure. To be clear,I admire those teams and families. I'm not one to complain, but there have definitely been dark times during my journey.Thankfully, there has also been help and support by many friends and colleagues.
Now, thanks to Bob,Gary and Dan Leverich, I finally have the opportunity I have wanted for as long as I can remember. I am excited to go through the license upgrade process, make runs and get out there and race! I hope you will follow along with my journey as I prepare for my rookie year as a Top Fuel driver.
Even more, come out to the track, stop by and say hi!
Photo by : Mike Salemme 2019
This is Joe's personal Injected Altered that he still runs when he has the time,it is now being upgraded with a larger supercharged combination. Joe uses the car to help spread the word of his organization Right 2 Breathe,which helps people suffering from COPD.
Right2Breathe was founded on the powerful idea that people can overcome difficult obstacles when they allow their passions in life to inspire them. The old adage, “When you do what you love,you don’t work a day in your life” applies to much more than just one’s career choices.
We believe that the world is a better place when people use their gifts and talents to follow their dreams.Our mission is to inspire, educate,and empower people living with lung disease to rekindle the fire for their passions while providing the information necessary for them to take action. This will help them renew their commitment to their own wellness while inspiring other members of the respiratory patient community.In addition to the patient community,we provide education for caregivers who support them and the clinicians who treat people living with respiratory disease.
We achieve our mission through Lung Health initiatives, multiple outreach and educational programs.
If you or someone you know needs help please contact Joe Morrison at :
https://right2breathe.org/contact/
https://right2breathe.org
Thanks Joe for sharing your story and cause with us and we wish you luck with the Top Fuel team.
Photo's not by the author are courtesy of Joe Morrison 2021.
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