An Interview with the Bridgeport Bandit
Q – Tell us about your plans for the 2016 racing season.
Bandit – Now that my friend, Phil (that would be Punxatawny Phil, the famous groundhog) has forecasted an early Spring, I am really anxious for the start of the new racing season.
The roar of the racing engines will be heard for the first time on Saturday March 19th when both the 5/8 and 1/4 mile tracks are open for the first practice of the season. The first green flag of the season waves one week later with the 60 Over Doug Hoffman Memorial Race. This is one of my favorite races of the year. First, it marks the start of a new season and secondly, this race always attracts a lot of drivers from throughout the Northeast. This will be the fourth running of this event honoring former track champion and promoter, Doug Hoffman. Each of the previous races has been won by an invader – Ryan Godown in ’13 and ’15 and Bobby Varin in 2014.
Q – You spend a lot of time at the Bridgeport Speedway. What are some of your favorite things to do there?
Bandit – I always get to the track early so that I am sure that I have plenty of time to do all the things I want to do. I always spend some time in the Bounce House – it’s so much fun to jump around with my friends. Then I make sure that I take a ride on my Bandit Bus so that I can ride through the pits and see all of my driver friends and check out the action behind the scenes. Of course, I have to leave plenty of time to enjoy a meal before the races get started. My very favorite menu item is the chicken fingers. You know, raccoons like to dip their food and I really like to dip my chicken in the honey mustard sauce! And then if I have room, I head to the Water Ice or Ice Cream stand later in the night for my snack.
I make sure to eat before the races start because I don’t want to miss any of the action on the track!
Q – What is your favorite divison at the Bridgeport Speedway?
Bandit – Don’t make me pick just one! Every one of the divisions offers something to the Bridgeport fans.
With the Big Block Modifieds, it’s the speed! They are so fast! The competition is so close with the Crate/Sportsman cars – lots of wheel to wheel racing in that division. The Outlaw Stocks use those full fenders for lots of banging and rubbing – their races are always full of action. And the Rookies – well it’s a lot of fun to watch them progress and their skills to develop as the season goes on.
Q – What is your favorite event of the season?
Bandit – I always make sure to check my Bridgeport Speedway schedule because they have so many specials planned throughout the season. One of my favorites is Bike Night. There are four Bike Nights this year – the first one is on May 14th. Several lucky boys and girls will go home with a brand new bicycle on Bike Night. It’s a lot of fun!
And I really like Quarter Midget Night when many of my young friends bring their race cars (quarter midgets) to Bridgeport to show all of the fans how they race.