OVR-1333-C #88 Chuck Kotwica modified coupe

Chuck Kotwica was an early stock car racer who hailed from Utica, NY. Given the places he most frequently raced at and that wonderful portrait of a Native American chief that some sign painter did on his best - known car, I would venture to guess Chuck may have had some Native blood in him. He would drive at many of the central and northern New York tracks in the 1950's, such as Watertown, Canton, and others.

In 1953, there was much fanfare as promoters Ed Feuz and Jim Gage opened a NASCAR - sanctioned racing series at the irregularly - shaped Montgomery County fairgrounds track at Fonda. Chuck managed a difficult win� in Fonda' s first feature, battling terrible track conditions. he would not become a regular there, and ended up selling his #88 car to Utica neighbor Chuck Mahoney.

What made Chuck Kotwica a household name to people in the know about New York racing is how famous and legendary the Fonda Speedway became. I don't know much more about Chuck, but the history of Fonda could fill more than the large book already written about it.