not forgotten . . .

Chuck Ciprich


Sayre, PA
30.November.1941 - 16.April.2023

 Chuck enjoyed a long (around 25 years) successful racing career, mostly spent in supermodifieds and modifieds, and mainly being based in the North East. Chuck did particularly well at Oswego Speedway. Chuck also used to be an electrician for the Conrail railroad operation in the New York area, where he remained until his latter years, moving down to Sun City Center, Florida. He also served in the US Army.

1978 Oswego International Classic, Chuck earns a Classic win
Jimmy Shampine the favorite to win the '78 Classic, blew an engine during qualifications and had to qualify through the heats. His closest rival that year, Chuck Ciprich, in the Ron Buckner No. 36, set a new track record of 17.919 seconds to sit on the pole. With the green flag waving, Ciprich jumped out into the lead followed by Kempton Dates and Warren Coniam. Meanwhile from his 30th starting position, Shampine was ripping up through the pack. By lap 15 he was all the way up to 16th and by the 25 lap mark had moved into the top five. After a lengthy caution followed by a restart, Shampine passed Dates and Coniam for third and second and the very next lap passed leader Ciprich. Incredibly by lap 49 Shampine had gone from 30th to first place!! For the next 100 laps or so all Shampine had to do was outlast the yellow flags. On each restart he would pull away from 2nd place Ciprich. But on a restart on lap 190, Ciprich surprised everyone by passing Shampine as the crowd roared in disbelief. Shampine quickly went back to work trying to regain the No. 1 spot but Ciprich had enough to hold him off and went on to Classic victory with Shampine having to settle for second.

1979 Oswego International Classic, Chuck makes it two in a row
Chuck Ciprich drove a real smooth consistent 200 laps to defend his Classic Championship victory in 1979 but once again it was not the favorite that won the race. 1979 was the year of 'team 8 balls' - the roadster driven by Jim Shampine and Shampine's rear engine creation driven by Warren Coniam. Shampine roared from his pole starting position to take the early lead and was soon joined by his stablemate Coniam who started in 3rd. Shampine and Coniam were lapping a slower car around lap 75 when they tangled. Shampine was knocked out of the action and Coniam also headed to the pits for a scheduled pit stop. Steve Gioia inherited the lead at this juncture and he held it until just prior to the half way point when he lost an oil filter and spun wildly down the backstretch taking second place Bentley Warren with him; This gave the lead to Gary Allbritain. Meanwhile Warren Coniam was slashing through the field and by lap 122 had made up his lap deficit. Dave Shullick came on to take the lead and he relinquished it to Chuck Cpirich on lap 156. But all eyes were on the '6ball' Coniam who was now closing in on the leaders. On lap 169 Coniam roared past Ciprich and took the lead. It looked to be another Classic fairy tale ending in the making but with 15 laps to go the oil tank on the 6 began leaking and he was black flagged into the pits. Ciprich inherited the lead and collected his second Classic trophy in as many years. Dave Shullick held on for 2nd.

June 1971

1972, Chuck wins R. Wheels Schaefer 100 qualifier

1972

1973 classic ride

1973 classic, on his way to a 15th place finish

1973 - Rolling Wheels crash

1974

1974 program cover

Chuck spent some time in the Herm Graff C-15 in 1975, highlighted by a 3rd place finish on June 28th

1975 Weedsport win

1975 schaefer 100, qualified 10th finished 7th
more exploits with this car

1976

1977

First Oswego win August 20, 1977

1978

1978 Classic winner

1978 Classic story

September 1978

Sep '78, Chuck didn't fare too well in this one

Salem, October 1978

1979

1979

July 7, 1979

August 4, 1979

1979 Classic winner

Four wins and second in points at Oswego in 1980

August 9, 1980

August 29, 1980

1980

1980 Classic bummer

1981 May 9th opening day winner

May 24th, two in a row to start the season

But then a hard crash on June 6th sidelined Chuck and the #36 for two weeks. He and the Buckner 36 returned on June 27th with a 2nd place finish and duplicated that again the following week (July 4th). However, another hard hit on July 11th (pictured above) was another set-back.

Chuck would finish an up and down 1981 season 5th in points, his biggest win coming in the May 24th Port City event.

1981 Pocono R.o.C. In the Ed Cloce modified (dropped out lap 198)

1983, a cup of coffee in Indycars


  • Chuck Ciprich links
  • -link here
  • please links, stories, stats or images so we can all remember Chuck Ciprich.
  • stats
  • 1978 and 1979 Oswego Classic winner
  • 1978 Hy-Miler Nationals 2nd place finish (behind Dave Shullick)
  • 16 Oswego feature wins, 52 top 5's

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