Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Joe Lepone Jr. races Mark Pawuk at the 1992 Gator Nationals. Lepone Jr. passed away July 12.

Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Joe Lepone Jr. races Mark Pawuk at the 1992 Gator Nationals. Lepone Jr. passed away July 12.

Pro Stock and Pro Mod race car driver and engine tuner Joe Lepone Jr. passed away Sunday after a long battle with cancer.

Lepone Jr. was Summit Racing’s first-sponsored NHRA Pro Stock driver, piloting the Summit Racing Chevy Beretta from 1990-’92.

Lepone Jr. (Image/NMCA)

Lepone Jr. (Image/NMCA)

Lepone Jr. has been heavily involved with drag racing throughout his entire adult life, working with several racing organizations, including NHRA, IHRA, PDRA, NMCA, and many more. He spent part of his career as a crewman and driver for drag racing legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins.

The staff at OnAllCylinders, and the entire Summit Racing family, send their thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to Lepone’s wife Cynthia Lepone and his many friends and racing-family members touched by Lepone Jr.’s passing.

Expensive medical bills mounted during Lepone Jr.’s long cancer battle, and friends and family are asking anyone who wants to help to do so. Online donations supporting Lepone Jr.’s funeral and memorial expenses can be made at this GoFundMe page set up in his honor.

You can also read more about Lepone Jr.’s life and career here from our friends at BangShift.

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Author: Matt Griswold

After a 10-year newspaper journalism career, Matt Griswold spent another decade writing about the automotive aftermarket and motorsports. He was part of the original OnAllCylinders editorial team when it launched in 2012.