Bob Garbarino began his career as a car owner-builder in 1961. The signature V-4 Mystic Missile won the Connecticut State Modified title in 1965 before moving up to the NASCAR Modified division in 1966 and capped off the year with a win in the season ending World Series. Garbarino constructed a team car which was the first Modified of record to use a big block Chevy for power.
By the 1980s the day of the Backyard Mechanic was all but over. Garbarino bought a Troyer Chassis and a professionally built motor when Bugsy Stevens came on board. More wins came as Stevens wound down his driving career in Modifieds, running his last race in Garbarino’s Mystic Missile in 1987.
The Mystic Missile team, led by Garbarino, has fielded some of the most competitive cars and successful drivers in the history of the NASCAR Modified Division and the Whelen Modified Tour as well as representing quality sponsors such as Pennzoil and Ralston Purina . Garbarino owned cars have won races at Seekonk Speedway, Thompson Speedway, Stafford Motor Speedway, Waterford Speedbowl, The Race of Champions at the Pocono Raceway, Jennerstown Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Holland Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, New Hampshire International Speedway, Monadnock Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bob Garbarino and his Mystic Missile have been dedicated to Modified Racing for 48 years. He has done it with style and most of all, with class. His efforts have reflected that style and class as his equipment has always had a neat and professional appearance as well as being competitive. |
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Photo From The Val LeSieur Archives
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