By ohnson 
Sometimes in life, change can be an excellent phenomenon. This is precisely what big-block Modified driver Vinnie Vitale is earnestly hoping for. The driver from Cato, N.Y., is bidding farewell to the Modified world and is fully committed to running 360 Sprint Cars in 2017. Several factors lie behind this transformation, with the most significant one being cost.
“I sense that the Modified is spiraling out of control in terms of money,” Vitale remarked when reached by DirtTrackDigest.com on Wednesday afternoon. “To remain in it, to keep pace with everyone else, it has simply gone beyond manageable limits. I don’t truly have a sponsor like some of the larger teams do. I undertake it more as a pastime than anything else. That’s not a hobby. We are competing for the same amount of money that we have been for years. Have one unfavorable night and you can’t even purchase a tire with what we earn.”
Apart from cost, Vitale is seeking to have enjoyment. He believes he can achieve that while competing in the Sprint Car. The 360 Sprint Car world is known to be far more amicable than many other forms of racing. Teams frequently travel together, stay together, and even spend time away from the track engaging in non-racing activities.
“The Sprint Car world is more like a family,” said Vitale. “Everyone is there to assist one another. I have my car and other components, and everyone has been lending me a helping hand. They have been wonderful. Both Donath brothers, Brian and Shawn, Jason Barney has been excellent, and Doug Emery. I obtained a car from Chuck Hebing and he’s been remarkable; they’ve all been outstanding.”
This isn’t Vitale’s initial venture into the Sprint Car world as he participated in a few events back in 2013 with mixed outcomes. At that point, he teamed up with Barney at X-1 Race Cars. Given where he was in his career at that time, he wasn’t prepared to go all out on the Sprint Car with the big-block Modified being the main focus. This time, he’s fully committed.
“I know when I entered it I was with Jason (Barney) and they taught me a lot, but I didn’t gain much from it because I was overly concerned about the big-block at that time,” Vitale mentioned. “I was attempting to handle both simultaneously. I think if I focus solely on one thing, I’ll have a better understanding of what I need to do for the setup and similar matters. I’m starting anew. I’m beginning from the bottom with the hope of gradually working my way up. I think in the first few races, I’m going to start at the rear until I’m comfortable racing with those guys. I don’t want to cause any disruptions for others.”
Vitale plans to race locally while having the opportunity to spend more time at home with his family. He’s looking forward to being able to undertake numerous activities that he missed out on due to his dedication to weekly racing.
The move brings both excitement and a tinge of sadness for Vitale. He admitted that he will miss many aspects of the Modified world, including the people at Bicknell Racing Products, but he knew he was ready for a change.
“When the racing season came to an end, I was contemplating what to do with the big-block,” said Vitale. “We were going to make some alterations to the motor and acquire a new car and all that. In discussions with Randy (Williamson), that’s the one aspect I’m going to miss, Bicknell. Everyone there has been fantastic to me. I was reflecting on all the things I did over the years with the Modified and ultimately decided that I want to regain my excitement for racing. I’m enthusiastic about this. I can’t wait to jump back in and see what I can accomplish with it.”
Vitale will have just one car at his disposal, an Eagle Chassis, as well as only one motor. He’ll head to the races with support from his company Vitale Ready-Mix, along with assistance from Donath Motorworx and 87 Speed. His car will make its first appearance at the Motorsports Expo in Syracuse as part of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint booth.