Mario W. Fiore, known regionally and nationally as an owner of championship-winning race cars, died Thursday, June 23, 2016 after a long illness. He was a lifetime resident of Springfield.

Born August 15, 1950 to Mario A. Fiore and the late Anne (Myoski) Fiore, Mario was the 2000 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship car owner. He was also a proud member of the New England Auto Racers (NEAR) Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2012, his first year of eligibility.

After graduating from Cathedral High School, Mario attended Western New England College and also served in the United States Army. He later worked in construction and was a member of Local 999. His passion was auto racing, a sport he discovered as a teenager at the Riverside Park Speedway.

His earliest successes came with his friend and driver, Gary Colturi, before Gary’s death in a highway accident. Mario subsequently employed a number of drivers; his NASCAR championship in 2000 came with Jerry Marquis, and the Fiore no. 44 had a long run of success with Reggie Ruggiero.

Together, Fiore and Ruggerio won track championships at Riverside Park in 1979, 1984, and 1988; Monadnock Speedway in 1979 and 1988; and Stafford Motor Speedway in 1983. They also won often at Thompson Speedway. Fiore was the winning owner in the 1987 Race of Champions at Pocono International Raceway, a two-time winner at Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway, and a repeat champion of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway.

Though he retired as a car owner in 2001, Mario’s skills as a mentor kept him in the limelight, as several of his former crewman reached prominence as NASCAR team members and race car builders. Mario worked diligently and tirelessly to campaign for the MGM Builders and became quite close to Mike Mathis. In that space of time Mario befriended Tommy Barrett and worked with him until the very end. Barrett’s abilities are undeniably great. Mario was greatly proud of him and called him his son. Mario’s magnetic personality attracted the best.

Besides his father, Mario is survived by his brother Louis and sister Cindy of Springfield; his longtime friends Margaret and John Rosati, many relatives and special friends. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 from 4-7 pm at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home on 220 North Main Street in East Longmeadow.

The funeral take place on Wednesday, June 29th beginning at 8:45 am at the funeral home, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Springfield, followed by burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery. Donations may be made in Mario’s memory to D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, 3350 Main St, Springfield MA 01107. Visit forastiere.com for more information or to share a memory.