Hillsboro man killed in drag-racing crash

John Lupco remembered as good friend, family man.

By REVA McEACHERN
Gannett New Jersey
John Lupco was a racer. He would spend hours working on his '99 Cressman dragster and invested thousand of dollars to increase its speed. On Saturday, the 42-year-old Hillsborough resident died doing what he loved best, driving his dragster at Atco Raceway.

"He really loved that car," said his wife of 20 years, Marie Lupco, 43.

At its peak, Lupco's dragster could go 178 mph. During a test shot Saturday before the actual competition, Lupco was approaching maximum speed when the throttle stuck.

"It wasn't shutting down at the end line," his wife said. "He pulled the (parachute), and it just kept going."

Lupco's dragster sped through the sand track and tire barricade and smashed into a tree. He was killed on impact.

The Lupcos have lived in Hillsborough for 16 years. John Lupco also leaves behind Saige, his 11-year-old daughter.

Lupco was the owner of Highline Automotive on Route 1 in South Brunswick and was known for being more like a friend to his employees than a boss, said John Orzechowski, shop manager at Highline.

"I was his neighbor for a long time before I started working here. He was just a good guy."

Lupco, who owned Highline for 16 years, was remembered Monday as an excellent boss and overall great guy. Employees said he was a friend to everyone. He employed many people from the community over the years, said Orzechowski, adding that Lupco was respected by his peers and valued by his customers.

"Other shop owners are calling and offering any kind of help," Orzechowski said.

"He was like a brother," said Bob Fisher, a longtime friend of Lupco.

The two, who both owned car-repair shops, became friends at the racetrack.

"We would go out and race every weekend together, went to the movies, worked on our cars. We liked horror movies and our wives didn't," Fisher said.

Lupco also raced at Englishtown Raceway Park and competed in Sunoco Points Bracket Racing. He was a member of the National Hot Rod Association and has been drag racing for many years.

"He was in the top ten of his points division," Marie Lupco said.

In addition to his dragster, he had a '69 Camero that he raced at the track and a '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass that he raced in the Super Comp division.

"He was a great father," his wife said. "He was very caring and very generous. He was a loving husband. He was a great cook. He helped out a lot around the house. We have a very old house so there's always a lot to do. He was a strong person, strong character. He will be missed a lot."

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. at Brunswick Memorial Home, 454 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bartholomew's R.C. Church, East Brunswick. Interment will follow at Neshanic Cemetery, Neshanic. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

from the Courier News website www.c-n.com