Faces In The Crowd: Visiting With Chuck Thibeault Jr.

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.

A Racer Who Now Sits In Another Seat …

Returning to Stafford Speedway I found another race fan who weekly makes the commute to the racetrack with his passion for Modified racing. He brings his own chairback and climbs the grandstand stairs to Section F with a big smile because he is at a racetrack.

This fan has been a fixture at Stafford Speedway for a long time, and it was the moment to tell his story. Speaking to Chuck Thibeault Jr., I found another great race story. Chuck’s father sparked his interest in racing at a young age bringing him to some of the old New England tracks to watch legends compete. He got the race bug and soon found himself in a race car running with his childhood heroes like Bugsy Stevens, Fred DeSarro, Mario Caruso and Manny Silva. Thibeault won the Modified Rookie of the Year award in 1973 at Thompson Speedway. Nowadays he is somewhat content with a grandstand seat being a fan.

What got you involved in racing?

“Bugsy and Leo Cleary and all the old time racers. Back in the old days, my dad took me to all the old tracks like Norwood [Arena Speedway in Norwood, Mass.) and Westboro [Speedway in Westboro, Mass.].”

When did you start racing?

“It was in the late 60’s Those were the great 60’s. … I started with the Cadets at night at Seekonk [Speedway], and then I went into the Modifieds. I drove the No. 14 Modified. … I received the Rookie of the Year award at Thompson in 1973 and raced a couple more years there and called it quits.”

Why did you quit racing?

“Oh, you know, when you’re married and your wife doesn’t like racing, you got to stop at some point.”

What is your most memorable racing experience. 

“When I went in a dirt bank said Thompson. There was a wall in the front stretch. Then turns one, two, three, and four were all dirt banking.”

What were your thoughts when you hit the dirt wall?

“I didn’t know. I thought it was going to be a little bit easy, but that dirt was pretty hard to hit.”

Did you get hurt when you went into dirt embankment? 

“No.”

And now that you’re not racing, you’ve become a fan.

“Yes, I am a racing fan.”

What is your favorite track?

“I like Stafford [Speedway] and I like Seekonk [Speedway].”

And as far as which division, which division do you like?

“I like the Modifieds.”

And as far as viewing yourself, touring and traveling, how far do you travel for racing as a fan?

“I’ll go as far south as New Smyrna and as far north as New Hampshire, including Star Speedway and Lee Speedway and that’s about it. I’m getting old and I cannot drive at night.”

Do you wish you were still able to race?

“Oh, yes. The mind says yes, but the body says no. It’s kind of tough.”

If somebody gave you an opportunity to drive a Modified, would you?

“I wouldn’t mind just sitting and going around, but not to race though. Life goes by too fast.”

(Photos courtesy of Chuck Thibeault Jr.)