by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Just like the Eagles crooned back in the 1970s, at Monticello Raceway there’s a “New Kid In Town” and his name is Joey Bongiorno.

Geri Schwarz photo

Joey Bongiorno hustled Eastern Photo to a 2:00.4 triumph on Tuesday.

Just like his friend and predecessor, Jordan “the (original) Kid” Stratton, who rose to the head of the class here at the Mighty M and is a well-respected talent throughout the industry, young Joey is working towards similar goals and his early accomplishments are outstanding.

Just 18 years of age and still in high school, the grandson of Harold “Sonny” Dancer, Jr. knew right from the start that all he wanted to do was be a harness driver.

Last season while still a junior at Colts Neck (NJ) High School, “the new kid in town” joined a few amateur driving clubs and gained needed experience and then became a member of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Series where he not only showed his elders that he knew how to handle a horse, but the youngster went on to win the “National Amateur Driver of the Year Award” from the United States Harness Writers Association.

Bongiorno began the 2011 campaign in the amateur driver ranks, but when he reached the golden age of 18 on Sept. 23 he became a professional. And his talent was immediately recognized by the local scribes and, in late October, they presented him with their “Rising Star Award” at their annual awards banquet.

And the youngster is making the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA look good.

At the Mighty M on Tuesday (Dec. 6), Bongiorno reined his 11th winner here when he guided his mother’s Eastern Photo to a gate-to-wire triumph over a muddy racetrack in a time of 2:00.4.

One of the first to congratulate Bongiorno after that driving victory on Tuesday and give him words of encouragement was none other than Jordan Stratton, who a few years ago at 21 years of age, became the youngest reinsman to ever win the driving title at Monticello Raceway. And by the way, Stratton won a pair of races on the Mighty M’s Tuesday card.

Thus far this season young Joey has won 28 races against drivers two and three times his age. But it’s for sure when Bongiorno gets behind the starting gate none of his competitors are thinking of his age, they’re more concerned with trying to win the race themselves.

Little do they know, or even recognize, that in order for Bongiorno to drive at Monticello, or at Saratoga where he also competes, he has to get out of his high school classes in New Jersey early to have his very supportive parents — Bobby and Barbara — get him to the track in time to drive yet another harness race.

“I’m so lucky that my parents — and my grandfather — are so supportive of me and my goals,” Bongiorno said after his latest driving victory.