Cliff Kotary | |
Birth Name: | Clifford L. Kotary |
Birth Date: | November 8, 1919 |
Birth Place: | Floyd, New York |
Death Date: | [1] |
Current Series: | Modified racing |
First Year: | 1948 |
Car Number: | 60X |
Wins: | 300+ |
Last Finish: | 1968 |
Titles: | 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 New York State Fair Champion |
Clifford "Cliff" Kotary (November 8, 1919 – December 27, 2010) was an American dirt modified racing driver who accounted for over 300 feature victories. He won an unprecedented six straight New York State Fair Labor Day Championships.[2]
Cliff Kotary began his racing career at Bennett's Field in North Utica, NY in 1948. He competed successfully at the renowned tracks throughout New York, Vermont, and Canada, including Fonda Speedway NY, Kingston Speedway ON, Maple Grove Speedway NY, Monroe County Fairgrounds NY, State Line Speedway VT, and the Watertown Speedway NY.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
In 1960 Kotary won the first of six straight New York State Fair championship events at the Syracuse Mile. His attempt for a seventh Labor Day victory in 1966 ended while he was leading with four laps remaining and the engine broke.[2] [9]
Cliff Kotary was inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame and the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.[2]