Longtime local track announcer Matt Buckler is currently being treated at Manchester (CT) Memorial Hospital.
Buckler tested positive on Monday for COVID-19.
Buckler had a message posted to his personal Facebook page Tuesday sharing the news of his diagnosis and hospitalization.
Buckler was part of the announcing team at Saturday’s Icebreaker 2021 at Thompson Speedway. Buckler, a longtime reporter at the Journal Inquirer of Manchester, is also an announcer at Stafford Speedway and the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
He will not be part of the announcing crew for Stafford Speedway’s opening weekend of events April 24-25.
We at RaceDayCT wish Matt a speedy recover and we can’t wait to see him back at the track.
Get well soon!
Get well Matt – praying for a speedy recovery
get well matt, heres to a speedy recovery.
Get well soon Matt we’ll miss you at the sizzler
Prayers for a speedy recovery, won’t be the same without Matt at the track, a great guy to talk to
Dear Matt, get well soon. What are you kidding me? This isn’t a Matt Buckler had a cardiac event and is resting comfortably deal it’s an entire racing community deal. Starting Friday as Buckler cruised the pits in his golf cart doing Facebook interviews as teams were practicing with guys like Zachem, Talman, Waterman and more. Naturally not a mask to be seen. The conversations and contacts where he could have picked up the bug or spread it. Then more contacts on Saturday.
Buckler one of my tribe….old and a Connecticut resident and most of us have already gotten juiced. Hopefully he’s been vaccinated and this is more of a Gino Auriemma situation. Vaccinated, diagnosed but mild or no symptoms. Even one out of two could help. If he didn’t get vaccinated knowing full well all the interpersonal contacts his future held that’s a completely different conversation.
Meanwhile if you were in close quarters with Buckler you need to be on red alert and perhaps consider a test especially if you have a family to consider and have not gotten your shot.
Get well soon Matt!!!
If he tested + on Monday, he was spreading at the track over the weekend.
Anybody that was near Matt needs to get tested immediately. Or anybody he was near. Or near them, and so on, and so on.
Even if you were vaccinated. You need to know if you are infectious and can spread the virus. 🦠
Oh dear.
Get well soon Matt.
Looks like Matt is trying to put this virus in a thumb tack as he rounds turn 4 toward the finish line of a healthy checked flag!! Hope it’s not a close race if others were infected a reminder of how this virus is still out and killing people. Maybe Matt can take a victory lap with in a paperclip of the wall to good health.. obviously was having fun with some Mattisms as I call them! Hope you heal fast Matt. Local racing won’t be the same with out the you!
Get well soon Matt.
“If he tested + on Monday, he was spreading at the track over the weekend.
Anybody that was near Matt needs to get tested immediately. Or anybody he was near. Or near them, and so on, and so on.
Even if you were vaccinated. You need to know if you are infectious and can spread the virus. 🦠
Oh dear.”
Only one person could turn this into something other than what it was intended to be. Does it surprise me, absolutely not.
Why’s everyone saying Matt was spreading it ???
He probably got it from someone else because he seemed perfectly fine all day Saturday and remember there was no Sunday.
And just an FYI for everyone that doesn’t want to get sick take Vitamin D & C every day 👍🏼👍🏼
Paul,
Besides patient zero, everybody gets it from someone else. And if he tested positive and was hospitalized on Monday that means he was spreading on Saturday. Anyone who came in contact with him Saturday should likely think about getting tested within the next couple days.
Paul, where have you been the last year? There is a pandemic going on due to a highly contagious 😷 virus 🦠. It’s been in the news everyday for the last year. Almost 3 million dead around the world, 580,000 in the USA. Any of this sound familiar?
If he is sick enough to be hospitalized on Monday, he’s probably been incubating for well over a week, which includes the IceBreaker weekend. Contact tracing highly recommended. If you were anywhere near Matt, make plans to get tested.
Earl, it is what it is.
Wear a mask 😷 , keep your germs 🦠 to yourself.
Hoping Matt has a speedy recovery, and is lucky enough to not have any after effects. Get well soon Matt, you are missed.
hang in there, matt, we’ll miss you at the sizzler, hope you’re able to be back soon.
“Why’s everyone saying Matt was spreading it ???”
“Everyone” isn’t. Most are sending best wishes.
Including this one on Facebook that was curious..
“Pete Falconi
Feel better Matthew Buckler. I know you were dragging a little on Saturday, but made it through the whole show. Rest up and come back strong. (Stronger than a Redwood tree!)”
Get well soon Matt. If he had no fever or symptoms why is he in the hospital? I have had it. Body ached, tongue felt weird for a day and had a caugh. No reason to be hospitalized. 6 people that I personally know who got at least one shot( a coupe have had both) have still tested positive after being vaccinated. It’s not the end all to this virus.
Paul posted, “Why’s everyone saying Matt was spreading it ???
He probably got it from someone else because he seemed perfectly fine all day Saturday and remember there was no Sunday.
And just an FYI for everyone that doesn’t want to get sick take Vitamin D & C every day 👍🏼👍🏼”
Folks, this is pure idiocy.
First of all, Matt posted, or had someone post it for him, a statement about his COVID status and an apology if anyone else were to get infected. I saw it on social media, perhaps Twitter.
If someone has COVID-19, they are a spreader. That is why these people are put into isolation and quarantine, to prevent others from being infected by an already infected person.
It is the responsibility of EVERYONE to make sure you are not spreading the virus if you have it, and make sure you do not put yourself in a position of high risk of getting yourself infected by being near an infected person. I treat all people as being infected until confirmed otherwise.
No doubt, he got it from somebody else, that’s the way it works. And people got it from him. And he spread it to others. Especially when he was around large crowds, like Thompson. Just like he caught it from someone that was spreading it, he was spreading as he is infected.
And the comment from Paul about the Vit D & C is pure idiocy. If that worked, there was no need for the national emergency effort to develop vaccines. This would have been over hours after it started.
And along those lines, the regions where there are increases in hospitalizations are reporting that all those people coming into the hospitals are UNVACCINATED. Let me be clear, the vaccines are indeed working.
Yes, it is not good that Matt is now sick with COVID-19. It is far more concerning that he spread it too many others.
The majority, 50-70% of covid deaths in CT happened in nursing homes as King Ned was paying the $600/day to take covid positive patients like Cuomo was in NY.
Unfortunately the death toll that is being inappropriately abused by liberals, includes comorbidities. CDC has announced 94% of covid deaths have had on average 4 additional comorbidities (diabeties, heart disease, pneumonia) that contributed to the deaths being coded as covid. Only 6% of the big covid death toll CNN likes to flash on their screen, died solely of covid.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm
You’ll pull through
“ hate me because I’m beautiful and smarter than you.
STARRING RACEDAYCT’S FAVORITE DAREALGOODFELLA
THE 2021 DAREALGOODFELLA INSULT COUNTER DAY 104 UPDATE
198 There are lots of idiots out there that refuse to do what they are told to do,
199 There are too many stupid, uncooperative people.
200 Doug and all his numerous other screen names voted for himself. He needs all the help he can get.
201 Even called someone (Doug) from the low rent area
202 I figured he knew everything already (Crazy in ny) and didn’t need to subscribe to anything. /sarcasm/
203 Where would we be without Narcissistic Judgmental Doug?
204 you (Doug) are aping Donald Trump.
205 And just like Trump, you (Doug) are a sore loser.
206 I found myself giggling at these idiots.
207 There’s plenty of idiots out there
208 Stupid is as stupid does
209 Dug Kobe (Doug Coby) made it clear
210 Dug Kobe (Doug Coby) did not get a deal to drive for another team
211 No owner would pick him up.(Doug Coby)
212 his mouth (Doug Coby) will sink him in VL
213 His schtick (Doug Coby)hasn’t worked, he has no appeal.
214 Ask Doug, he wrote about it years ago… he was looking at a 2 minute wait in line at the ticket booth so he left instead.
215 GP, you’re an idiot. And you are enraged. I’m loving it
216 LOGICAL CONCLUSION: GP is an idiot.
217 You’re (GP) an idiot and have no place whatsoever commenting on how real science works.
218 You (GP) aren’t even close to the facts, you are fact phobic.
219 Or you (GP) are an idiot incapable of comprehending and understanding facts.
220 Where wearing a mask is not genuinely and strongly advised. Yep, idiots one and all.
221 Those of you that are bragging you did, and commenting that attendees are over wearing masks , well, stupid is what stupid does.
222 They clearly do not give a (vulgar emoji)
223 ,Those of you that are bragging you did, and commenting that attendees are over wearing masks , well, stupid is what stupid does.
224 Folks, this is pure idiocy.
225 And the comment from Paul about the Vit D & C is pure idiocy.
226 NASCAR just made Sap a hero, and brought a whole pile of hate upon itself.
This was profoundly stupid. IDIOTIC.
TOTAL INSULTS IN 2021 THROUGH DAY 104……………………………226
NEW TRAUNCH OF INSULTS SINCE DAY 96 ……………….…………..29
AVERAGE INSULT COUNT PER DAY THROUGH DAY 104.. …………2.17
PROJECTED INSULT TOTAL FOR 2021 BASED ON 2.17 /DAY…………792
Jeff,
The comorbidities argument is purely political speak. When someone dies of cancer their death certificate rarely lists “cancer” as a sole cause of death. Multiple reasons are typically listed. If the physical reason for someone’s life functions coming to an end is pneumonia then that is listed on their death certificate even though that pneumonia was likely brought on by the issues of dealing with the cancer. It’s no different with COVID. Most people don’t die of “COVID” they die from the physical issues brought on to their body from dealing with COVID conditions. Using that argument that only six percent of people have died solely from COVID is a political argument made by people trying to downplay the realities of how dangerous the disease really is.
Jeff, this is for you…
“When you are dead, you don’t know that you are dead. It is only difficult for the others. It is the same when you are stupid. ”
If all those people with other issues did not catch COVID-19, they’d still be alive, living with their heart disease, cancer, etc.
Again, nursing homes were supposed to be safe havens. But this COVID-19 pathogen is far more contagious and lethal than was understood at the time.
Jeff, this is the #TrumpPandemic. 😝😝😝😝😝
50 to 70% huh. That’s a pretty wide spread. Makes you think Jeff couldn’t exactly recall what he heard on his favorite talk radio show on the topic.
As of yesterday there were 7974 Covid19 related deaths in Ct. The NHSN data as of April 6th shows 3871 Covid19 related nursing home deaths which is under 50% of the total.
I think what Jeff is really saying in so many words is the the people dying are older and while their deaths are unfortunate the younger more vital folks should not be made to suffer. Of the 7974 deaths 7381 have been over 60 or 92.6%.
The recent trend in Connecticut shows that infections are two to three times higher recently for the just born to 59 year old age brackets compared to 60 plus year olds.
Those like Jeff who implicitly suggest that the deaths of old people are of lesser importance aren’t going to be popular with the old age groups but if you’re in your twenties you can kind of see the point. On the other hand suggesting that if young people get sick in large numbers and don’t die it’s not a serious threat aren’t appreciating the bigger picture. One that allows greater opportunity for the virus to mutate as well as crippling the health care system, driving up health care costs and adversely affecting the economy.
But sure, don’t wear a mask, don’t take a risk by getting vaccinated and if you get sick no biggy. It’ll be fine, your favorite talk radio disc jockey said it would and they know everything.
I wish Matt the best of luck. I also wish people take “news” as a whole and are not relying on any one news brand or source. I admit when I am wrong and Thompson went off without a hitch. Also, the following day was cloudy. Again I hope everyone is in good health. I would not go there as I would be sitting next to someone that may not be wearing a mask. I do not see the problem with wearing masks. Unfortunately people believe that this is an infringement on their rights. Kinda like pants or underwear I guess. Another piece of clothing if you ask me. But I am but a just a small minded uninformed jerk.
I rely on what CNN tells me. The doctor on CNN said if we want to enjoy our freedoms we all need to get vaccinated. I am an American. I want to be free. I will get the vaccine so I can enjoy the freedoms I was born with.
Any news on how Matt is doing?
Darealgoodfella,
Working on getting some info on Matt.
There was a picture released around the time of the Thompson World Series of Buckler with Rick Fuller, the surprise color commentator for the modified event. Thompson got the event in just as things were fixing to get a whole lot worse virus wise as predicted and my first thought was wouldn’t it have been nice if they sent a message and wore masks being so close together. That’s been the norm in local racing. Individually with all the prominent people in the local community almost no leadership on safety protocols other then what the state is making tracks and people do and taking heat in the process.
Well over 200 Facebook entries on Mr. Buckler’s Facebook page expressing concern and best wishes. Excepting RaceDayCt there’s almost nothing on the internet. Stafford hasn’t even mentioned it on their site which seems strange. Like they don’t want to remind fans of the reality of Covid19 above and beyond reminding teams the same protocols are in place. No updates I can find on his condition so we wait and hope for the best.
This is the time for concern but in the future once Matt is up to speed there will be questions that shouldn’t be sugar coated. Like why is a prominent elderly staff member tooting around the paddock showing no regard for state regulations and common sense. Why is a guy in the hospital that has long since qualified for the vaccine that should have prevented infection or mitigated it’s affects. Why is it that in all of local racing there are no prominent people coming forward to say they’ve been vaccinated in a sport that has such a vested interest in this sort of thing not happening.. Not using their position to dictate to others nor advising others simply a public show that they did their bit.
Matt Buckler is not a beautiful man but he has a beautiful mind. His day job as Television and Radio editor for the Journal Inquirer allows him to range far and wide to capture the most interesting tidbits in media and put them in context. His Facebook entries as well can me beautiful. Like describing being stuck in traffic after leaving Stafford as the Stafford Grads parade through town and happy to have been in that particular traffic jam. Like a heart felt tribute to our men and women in uniform and how the country will continue to be the greatest country in the world because of their sacrifice.
That’s right, sacrifice is the cornerstone of democracy. Corny but true. Yet when the racing community has a chance to step up to the bat in a national emergency whether its safety protocols or getting vaccinated all the flowery flag waving goes out the window. The primary concern is how will this inconvenience me and is it really necessary in the first place. Just doing your bit like so many that get honored at races not even in the discussion.
I love Stafford and Stafford was a leader in opening up racing but even they never really grasped the idea of doing your bit. A cutting edge video describing what was necessary to satisfy government regulations to open no problem. A reminder that those regulations are still in place this season….check.
An endless stream on social media of team and track hype is after all them being the best in the business. A simple photo of an Arute getting vaccinated to set an example of a member of the racing community doing their bit apparently a bridge too far.
It’s too late now to change. I can’t help but wonder if the racing community had embraced safety protocols from the start and considered them a civic responsibility where you did your bit and not framed it as government mandated oppression Matt may not be in the position he is now. I’m certain of one thing once Matt is back at the microphone. His circumstance will be compartmentalized as his bad luck and nothing will be learned from it.
“Stafford hasn’t even mentioned it on their site which seems strange. Like they don’t want to remind fans of the reality of Covid19 above and beyond reminding teams the same protocols are in place.”
Stafford posted a reminder yesterday on Facebook that with the exception of increased capacity, all 2020 COVID protocols remain in effect, including at this Saturday’s open practice. The info is still posted on the SMS website, which is where the Facebook post referred readers.
“A reminder that those regulations are still in place this season….check.”
Doug,
Are you even trying?
For your reading pleasure:
https://staffordmotorspeedway.com/covid-19/
No need to look for it. When one clicks on an event to purchase a ticket you’re spoon fed the information again:
https://staffordmotorspeedway.com/tickets/Saturday-April-24th-NAPA-Opening-Day-p299468027
Click on through and you’ll see:
https://staffordmotorspeedway.com/stafford-motor-speedway-grandstand-policy/
A question concerning vaccines, are people shocked to find out an ID is required when a person receives their vaccine?
any update on Matt’s health?
CSG,
Obviously because of medical privacy laws I’m not at liberty to share any information here. What I will say is that if you’re the praying sort, say some prayers for Matt.
“Unfortunately the death toll that is being inappropriately abused by liberals, includes comorbidities. CDC has announced 94% of covid deaths have had on average 4 additional comorbidities (diabeties, heart disease, pneumonia) that contributed to the deaths being coded as covid. Only 6% of the big covid death toll CNN likes to flash on their screen, died solely of covid.”
as someone who happens to have diabetes, thanks for your concern Jeff. i hope you never have to worry about “comorbidities.”
Sending positive thoughts to Matt.
With the complete absence of an updates anywhere that’s exactly what I was fearful of.
In case anyone has not seen this yet:
“From Facebook:
This is a friend of Matt’s logging into his account as he dictates over the phone this message. He is currently at Manchester Memorial Hospital and does not have his phone or any way to reach anyone. This is what he would like to say:
I was diagnosed COVID-19 Monday afternoon. I hope I didn’t infect anyone at the Icebreaker on Saturday, if I did I am extremely sorry. I feel ok. I don’t have a fever. Hopefully this is just a temporary setback. I will be missing the Spring Sizzler, but hopefully I will see all my friends really soon. There is no need to worry. I actually feel pretty good right now.”
https://www.thelaurelct.com/buckler-hospitalized/
Get well soon Matt. You have a lot to do this season
Not reading an update on Buckler was not good. Now not reading an update of Buckler who is in crises it would appear is a good thing as he fights through it.
At least we have one prominent local racing personality that is willing to say publicly he has received the vaccine and sets a good example in my view. Not by words but by deed and that would be one Mr. Shawn Courchesne on Twitter and Facebook.
He’s out of the hospital and doing well. Sometimes prayers do work.
Doug,
Matt posted something on Facebook this morning indicating he has been released from the hospital.
Great news Shawn thanks for posting.
Nearly 80% of U.S. Covid fatalities were overweight. We are an unhealthy eating country but the PC world isn’t allowed to say it. Hit the gym, get outside and get the blood flowing…or be uninformed and spread fear like Dareal and the China party….Glad Matt is ok.
No excuses, that’s the headline. It’s what the best among us do when they show poor judgment. It’s human and how we improve. It’s admirable. Then why is it there are so many that are willing not to accept it and make excuses?
How bad was it? A reference to saying a prayer for Matt was made in this comment section by an authoritative source. And this Facebook post.
Jessica
For those who think it’s a false positive you don’t have the entire story. I’m sorry but Matt is downplaying what happened because that is what Matt does. His work colleagues at the JI who were with him on Monday very well know how serious it was. I was in contact daily with ICU at the hospital. You don’t spend 5 days in ICU when there’s under 500 people in the entire state hospitalized for covid as a false positive.
Sounds like it was not a stay overnight for observation does it? No matter the experts are ready to step in, circle the wagons and say no biggy Matt you did nothing wrong like this one.
Mike
Unless your were sneezing and coughing right in people’s faces the odds you infected anyone is extremely low, especially due to the fact of being outside.
Don’t beat yourself up, get yourself better and get back in action
Don’t believe Mike, Matts announcing partner seems to think along the same lines and even suggests a false test.
Pete Falconi
I sat beside you for ten hours in the booth at Thompson and tested negative this week. So maybe you weren’t as contagious as some people, IF your positive test was even correct. (Sometimes it’s a false positive). I can’t speak for everyone that you came in contact with. And you didn’t know at the time. Glad you’re feeling better
Then there’s the few were doing what they were supposed to observation so no worries.
Melissa
Glad your feeling better! Don’t be so hard on yourself we have all let our guard down a bit. 90% of the people at Thompson where not wearing masks.
And the hard core. Masks a complete waste of time says Christina.
Christina
Screw the mask they don’t do crap anyways, no need to apologize just feel better and get back to doing what you love!
No excuses. Actually a bunch of excuses followed including not being able to get an appointment which is no doubt true but a function of personal priority and effort. Most of we oldies that sought to get the vaccination including my elderly tenant with rabbit ears on her TV and no internet capability managed just fine. If you’re too busy or don’t want to travel that’s one thing but appointments were available for the motivated. A guy looking at a busy racing season should have been highly motivated.
So why don’t some of the people in the local racing community want to let a stand up guy own what happened and perhaps use it as an example to help others not repeat the same mistakes. Mike and Pete are making observations about virus transmission I’m guessing they are not qualified to, Melissa offers the gosh no one else was wearing masks defense and Christina goes so far as to say masks are a waste of time in the first place. See Matt, never happened!!!
It’s got to be hard for a guy used to spending his entire working life shining a light on others to find himself in a position of having the light shown on him but here we are. I agree with Mr. Buckler. Mistakes were made. By whomever gave it to him, failing to get the vaccination and choices made at Thompson. Why not encourage him to own it and send a message to others not do the same thing? Might actually save a live or a hospital stay.
I know the inclination of Mr. Buckler is to make others the story. I don’t know him but recognize the symptoms. Old school, show up for work and do your job sick or otherwise.
In this case perhaps he and Stafford could consider finding some way to use his experience in gently persuading the racing community to be on the ball when it comes to vaccinations and safety. A picture on social media of Matt and/or an Arute might carry a message with value. 16 and older now can register so Paul and David as well to convince the indestructible younger folks not to dawdle signing up.
It’s doing your bit and good for business…….a classic win win.
Atomic Punk wrote,
“Nearly 80% of U.S. Covid fatalities were overweight. We are an unhealthy eating country but the PC world isn’t allowed to say it. Hit the gym, get outside and get the blood flowing…or be uninformed and spread fear like Dareal and the China party….Glad Matt is ok.”
Here’s the facts as they have been presented to the public. The single most prominent factor in revealing risk of death is age. The older a person is, the much higher the risk of death due to COVID-19.
This is so obvious, and several states announced that they were going to start the early deployment of vaccines by prioritizing and protecting the elderly, the statistical and factual most vulnerable segment of the population. And as sure as water is wet and the sun will rise in the east, the GOP objected on grounds of their own idiocy, liberty, “IT’S UNFAIR”, etc.
So Atomic Punk, you gonna blame people for living too long, putting themselves at higher risk of succumbing to diseases?
Pure idiocy.
I’m shocked that some of you anti-vaxers, “COVID-19 is a hoax”, Libertarians, and anti-maskers aren’t going wild over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause.
Just in case you might be thinking about it, let me preempt you…
6 people in over 7 million vaccinated with the J&J came down with rare blood clotting. So let’s say that is 1 person per million having this reaction to the vaccine. BTW, the six women were found to have an underlying blood condition that may be a factor in their reaction.
Compare that to the statistical fact that in the USA, there are COVID-19 1,747 DEATHS per million people.
Feeling lucky??
I want to thank Shawn for using this as a public service announcement and personally contacting those he thought may be directly affected in a timely manner. I know his actions definitely helped mitigate the spread of infection, quite possibly preventing some from serious illness or worse, as well as lost school, work time, and income to others. For this humanitarian act, the community is indebted to Shawn.