Racing a family affair for Kotarys
Originally published August 1993

RON MOSHIER
Observer-Dispatch

FLOYD — When Cliff Kotary talks, Steve Kotary listens, and the latter has quickly learned how to translate those words of wisdom into victories.

“Uncle Cliff”, 72, is a member of central New York‘s DIRT Motorsports Hall of Fame. Steve is his 27-year-old great-nephew, and a glimmering dirt track star on the Outlaw Circuit.

Together, they have done area stock car racing‘s Kotary clan proud this season.

Cliff‘s engine building and experience as a driver have helped Steve carry on the Floyd family‘s winning tradition. The third-generation Kotary driver already has won eight features and has clinched the Pure Stock championship at Vernon‘s New Utica-Rome Speedway.

“Uncle Cliff just knows the game, and he knows how to play it,” said Steve. “He knows what it takes to win, and that‘s given me an edge.”

In his heyday, Cliff was one of the top stock car drivers in the northeast, winning the New York State Fair Championship six consecutive seasons, the last time in 1965.

He is one of many racing Kotarys. Brothers Tom and Robbie Kotary were also frontrunners in the 1960s. Three of Steve‘s second cousins, Dave, Gene and Alan Kotary, raced for years and first cousins Jeff and Ed Kotary are now Utica-Rome regulars in the Sportsman and Pure Stock divisions, respectively.

This is Cliff‘s first full season back in “the game,” this time as a behind-the-scenes player, since hanging up his helmet over 25 years ago.

“We get alone sometimes and we talk, and Steve listens real well,” said Cliff, who built and maintains the 400 cubic-inch Chevy that powers Steve‘s No. 31.“He‘s learned a lot. He was a little rambunctious at first, but he‘s calmed down. He‘s a lot more patient now. He knows you can‘t win the race on the first lap.”

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