Nestled in the Arikok Natural Preserve on the small island of Aruba sits the International Racetrack Palo Marga. The track is unique in a way no other track can boast. It sits on a beautiful island, it is the only track on that island, and it’s owned by the government, is run by The Boss Racing Foundation and just celebrated their 25th Anniversary.  But in one way, this track is like every other track sanctioned by the IHRA. It is a track of families. The families that come here to race do not have far to go, the island is only 19.5 miles long and 6 miles wide at it’s widest points. The families are warm, friendly and truly caring about the other families and friends at the track.
Big Joe Racing is a family of racers who are not strangers to island drag racing. The name “Big Joe Racing” came from the patriarch of the family, Joe Kock. Joe passed away when he was fifty four years old. Before he died, he passed on a love and knowledge of the sport to his five sons and three daughters. All eight of his children have raced at one time or another.

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Son, Ricardo won the first event the race track held on April 29, 1983 driving a 1967 Nova with the number 054 painted on the side. The number was chosen to honor their father who passed away at that age.  For the majority of the past twenty five years, the car has remained in competition with every new family member using it as their first race car. Ricardo’s wife, Sita, and daughter Magally, are very involved in the race operations taking care of everything from marketing to decorating the pits and feeding the friends and family who stop by their pit area. Son, Giovanni, and son-in-law Andy Sanchez, are long time racers and are busy grooming the next generation of gear heads. There are currently five children ready to step up and become the fourth generation to compete in the same car as their great-grandfather.
Ricardo’s brothers, Marcelo and Chicho and 2 nephews are still racing or involved in drag racing. Juan, another brother was ABC Champion in 1981 and 1982 and local champion in 1983 and 1984. Juan was also involved in every organization for the past 25 years and as chairman of the Organizing Committee operated the track for more than 10 years and initiated the track’s and Aruba Tourism Board’s involvement in the Summit SuperSeries prizes. Juan’s relationship with executives of IHRA led to the sanctioning of the Aruba track by IHRA, the Caribbean first.