Faces In The Crowd: Cathy, A Race Fan By Marriage

Faces In The Crowd is a semi-regular feature from RaceDayCT’s Denise DuPont visiting with fans in the grandstands at local short tracks.

When it comes to covering short track racing in New England, there are always plenty of stories to tell from the track or in the pits. But there is a whole other part of the racing community – the race fans – that have stories to tell. RaceDayCT’s Denise DuPont offers Faces In The Crowd as a way to tell those stories.

This past week I interviewed Cathy, who I have seen at several different race tracks. Her face is visible usually in the grandstand where she is surrounded by friends and family of race car drivers competing on the track.

At Stafford Speedway she arrives at the track early and saves her spot.  Slowly the rest of her racing friends start to join filling in empty spots, each with their designated area. I learned that most of her weekly companions are part a driver’s family or friend. 

This section of the grandstand are a part of their own special community where they come to cheer on and support both drivers and racing. Most have their own driver to root for but whether they do or not, they all cheer on drivers and teams from every division.  This is part of what continues the sport of racing and grows the young and new talent.

What got you involved in racing and coming to the race track?
“Actually, it was Michael, my husband that persuaded me to go to the race track and told me that it was going to be just one night a week. Then what was Friday night got into Saturday morning … But I have followed along with him and even picked up the lingo. I can repeat everything that he taught me but I cannot tell an SK [Modified] from an SK Light [Modified].”

What is your favorite race division or series?
“I like the Modifieds. Any Modifieds. I have my different drivers in the SK Mods, SK Lights and in the [NASCAR Modified Tour]. Mike, himself, was with Bryan [Narducci] for a long time.” 

What race tracks have you been to?
“We have been in New York, Massachusetts and [to Richmond, Va.]. We have travelled a bit with it. And now it is basically here [Stafford Speedway], Seekonk Speedway, and Thompson Speedway.
Now with [FloRacing broadcasts], we can stay home and watch racing. And we are older now too. Last time coming home from Stafford we had to pull over and go to sleep. We cannot just go like we used to.” 

What is your favorite track?
“I like Stafford and I do like Seekonk because that is old racing with the fans on the hill. And Claremont [Speedway] which is also on the side of a hill. … I do like going to the Valley [Lebanon Valley Speedway]. I do like dirt [racing] because of Venetta Narducci. She told me to go up in the skybox where you have a bathroom and concession stand. So, Mike can go in the pits and do whatever he wants, while I sit back enjoying the racing and not get dirty.”

What do you like most about racing?
“No matter where you go, you will start talking to the fans around you. They all have stories to tell. Fans are a great group of people – a good racing community. They are a nice group of people to hang around with on a Friday or Saturday night and I like watching racing. 20 years ago, when I started dating Mike, these kids currently racing were in the [Wild Thing Kart Series at Stafford]. We would come on Monday nights to watch them. Now to see how this group of young men and women have grown it is so nice to see, they are good group of kids. They have grown into an amazing group of young adults. And yet they are still babies to me. … I am on the racing bandwagon. I just go where Mike tells me to go. Like today, I asked him ‘Am I going to dirt or asphalt?’ He said Asphalt.”