Eastern Motorsport Press Association
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Picture

Frank Rio

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For seven decades, car owner Frank Rio has led a PA-based family dirt Modified team. His signature No. R-10 (a salute to the “Rio” name) has been a mainstay in Eastern PA and New Jersey.
In the 1980s, before embarking on a Hall of Fame Sprint Car career, Frank’s son-in-law Fred Rahmer drove the R-10 Modified to many victories at PA’s Grandview Speedway and Big Diamond Speedway.
Frank and his late brother Pete originally had the No. 39 Modified driven by George Sleight, Dick Havens, Stan Ploski, Leon Manchester, Budd Olsen, Ed Pratt, Dizzy Dean and Jackie Evans.
In the 1970s, the Rio Modified became the now-familiar No. R-10 that Frank fielded with Terry Ebersole, Jerry Verona and Jack McCabe at NJ’s East Windsor and Flemington; with its new driver Glen Fitzcharles winning features and titles.
In the years since, Frank and proud son Frank Jr. fielded the No. R-10 for drivers Howie Cronce, Frank Cozze, Dave Blaney (at Syracuse), Meme DeSantis, Ricky Elliott, Darren McCaughey and Wade Hendrickson. By the way, Frank Rio is now 96-years YOUNG!








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  • Home
  • History of the EMPA
    • History of the EMPA-The 1970's
    • History of the EMPA- 80's
    • History of the EMPA- The 1990's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2000's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2010's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2020's
  • EMPA Application
  • EMPA Hall of Fame A thru L
  • EMPA Hall of Fame M thru Z
  • Convention Sponsors
  • Convention Hotel Info & Room Reservations
  • Convention Photos
    • Convention Photos 2016
    • Convention Photos 2017
    • Convention Photos 2018
    • Convention Photos 2019
    • Convention Photos 2021
    • Convention Photos 2022
    • Video acceptance speeches from Jan 2022 convention
  • Convention Contest Rules
    • Pocono Raceway/EMPA Writer's Contest
    • Brice's Auto Parts Inc./NAPA Auto Parts EMPA Photographer's Contest
    • Dirt Track Digest.com./EMPA Video and Broadcast Contest Rules
  • Award Winners
    • EMPA National Driver of the Year
    • Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport award
    • Richie Evans North East Driver of the Year
    • Ace Lane Photographer of the Year
    • Jim Hunter Writer of the Year
    • Newsmaker of the Year award
    • John Blewett lll Young Gun award presented by New England Fuels
    • Jerry Reigel Outstanding Contribution to Sprint Car Racing award
    • Promotional Effort of the Year
    • Ernie & Marilyn Saxton Service Award
    • Pocono Raceway Writer's Contest Judges Comments by Year
    • Honda Video Contest Winners by Year
  • Newsletter Archives