When Joe Castello speaks so eloquently on the microphone at an NHRA event or on his WFO radio show, one might quickly conclude that he was a media man who became a drag racer. Truth be known, it was the other way around.
Castello was a drag racer who needed a way to fund his drag racing habits. After a while of throwing himself wholeheartedly into the business of drag racing, he has recently reconnected with his first love, first with his project car and secondly, driving a Super Comp dragster for Bo Butner.
“I always wanted to drive and I drove for many years and I kind of lost touch with that honestly, being on the NHRA tour and doing WFO radio,” Castello admitted. “I feel like my background as a driver way back in the day helps me ask questions and kind of probe into people to get a little more. So getting the opportunity to drive again was amazing, and I’m reconnecting with that. I’m reconnecting with the real reason that I started doing this: why am I even here? And the answer is because I love drag racing, I love to drive was a huge part of it. And to have that reawaken, it’s a really big deal.”
Castello’s weekly WFO Radio podcast/internet broadcast is a popular venue for drag racing fans. It’s a dream come true for Castello, who started drag racing as a teenager by driving a 2,500-pound heavy-duty GMC Pickup truck.
“I ran in high school eliminator at Miami Hollywood Speedway, and I won the high school track championship and that’s where I really started,” Castello said. “And so that I could keep racing, I got a job as a track announcer at Miami Hollywood Speedway. Eventually, we [Castello and his father Louis Castello] took our 1978 Trans-Am and turned it into a little Pro ET car, and I ran Pro ET and Super Pro. Ran Super Pro at Moroso Motorsports Park in 1995, last-century stuff.”
That same season, Castello won the Miami-Hollywood Super Pro championship and finished 11th in the legendary Five Day bracket race at Moroso Motorsports Park. He then began to transition into the next chapter of his drag racing life.
“I realized it’s great to be a talented driver, but you have to make money,’ Castello said. “You have to have a reliable source of income. That’s what started my broadcast career, and I have been on that journey ever since.”
Castello still has the Pontiac and has been busy revitalizing the Trans-Am into a competitive Super Street car. In the meantime, he’s got a firesuit and is willing to drive when the opportunity arises.
At the recent NHRA Division 4 points race hosted by the Texas Motorplex, Castello accepted an invite to drive Butner’s Super Comp dragster. Castello has held a Super Comp license for over two decades now.
“I have had a Super Comp license since 2000 and 2001, and I have always paid the money to keep it current,” Castello said. “I didn’t have a car but I kept everything up to date just in case. But earlier this year.”
Credit Top Dragster racer Jimmy Stahl for providing Castello with the confidence to get behind the wheel of Butner’s dragster. Stahl enabled Castello to gain his Top Dragster crossover license in Bradenton earlier this year. Castello drove the dragster to his fastest speed ever at 184 miles per hour.
“I felt confident saying yes [to Butner],” Castello said. “Had I not had the experience in Jimmy’s car in February, I would’ve never said yes to going 186 miles an hour in Bo’s car.”
Castello understands his calling is in the media sector of drag racing, but that doesn’t rule out drag racing when the opportunity exists.
“I am available during the year and Bo Butner was so kind to give me this opportunity, and he says he was very excited,” Castello said. “I red-lighted first round, but he was excited about the way I drove the car in the first round. And he says, “We’re going to do this again.”
“I was very excited and heartened to hear that because obviously it’s a very exciting, fun, some would say addicting experience. I would love to drive more, and I’m real fortunate that I’ve got some people that trust me and have fun when I’m driving their car.”
