Racicot goes from wreck to checkers
WATERFORD — T.J. Racicot and his team depend on hard work, not bells and whistles.
“We’ve had our share of ups and downs this season,” the X-Car driver from Quaker Hill said. “We just try to do the best we can. We keep on digging.”
That philosophy turned to gold on Aug. 1 when he grabbed his first careers win at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl just one week after he wiped out the front end of his car in a multi-car accident.
Not many drivers can go from the scrap heap to the penthouse in one week, but Racicot was able to do it.
“The week before we had a tough break,” Racicot said. “My best friend was here from California and we just got new shirts for the team, We had a fast car in practice and I was looking for a podium finish.”
The promising night turned into a nightmare when a bolt came loose and it deprived him of all his steering.
“I went hard into Josh Ciccio and we wound up in the wall,” Racicot said. “A few other cars were involved too.”
Racicot’s car, however, looked like it went 15 rounds with Gravedigger and lost.
“The right-rear frame rail looked like a pretzel,” Racicot said. “The entire front end of the car was gone. We had a lot of work to do. But we spent some long nights at the shop and we got it done.”
When he returned to action on Aug. 1, however, the car still was woozy from the crash of the week before.
“We went out for practice and we still didn’t think the car was 100 percent,” Racicot said. “So we made some more adjustments and the car got better for the feature.”
Once the 25-lap feature started, it didn’t take him long to discover he had a pretty good hot-rod underneath him.
“We started 12th, and we passed five cars in the first five laps,” Racicot said. “Then after a caution, we passed a few more cars.”
He was in third place with five laps to go when the two drivers in front of him, Steve Olsen and Will Rheaume, got tangled up and veered toward the wall.
Racicot was prepared for that sudden turn of events. He swooshed past the two cars while moving into the lead.
“All the stars lined up perfectly for me when that happened,” Racicot said. “I saw it coming that those two guys might get together, I just wanted to get around them and not get involved in the accident.
“Then I drove by the scoreboard, saw who was in second place and I knew the race wasn’t over.”
What Racicot learned was that point-leader Eddie Loomis was in second place, setting up a four-lap barnburner for the win.
“We both drove our butts off,” Racicot said. “Eddie is a great guy. He got into me once but I was able to hold him off.
The important thing was that we were able to put on a show for the fans. That is the reason we’re out there — to put on a show.”
Racicot’s win, however, was more than 30 years in the making.
He started as a fan and then worked as a crewmember, starting in the ‘80s when he worked with Brian and Dennis Blaise.
“I also worked with Diego and Shawn Monahan,” Racicot said. “Then I worked with Tommy Silva when he had his Sportsman car and he had a lot of success and won Rookie of the Year. I was his one and only crewmember.
“I always wanted to be behind the wheel, but I couldn’t afford it,” Racicot said. “I was working for Moose Douton and he put a ride together for me. But I didn’t have the funding or support to be competitive.”
Then this story heads to Virginia Beach as Racicot decided to start a family. When he returned to Connecticut 10 years later, he jumped back into motor sports as quickly as possible.
“I teamed up with Tommy Silva again and I drove an Enduro car,” Racicot said. “And that’s when I got the itch. Me and my friend started 55th and 56th in the Enduro and we were two of the last cars on the lead lap. I was hooked after that.”
Racicot took the next step in 2017 when his friend Andy Lee gave him his old X-Car. He took the car to Seekonk before the Speedbowl season opened and won a heat race. When the Bowl season got under way, however, Racicot’s luck wasn’t as stable.
“Two weeks into the season, we blew the motor,” Racicot said.
Racicot purchased a car from Rich Hearn and went back behind the wheel.
“The car was never 100 percent,” Racicot said. “It was a little bent. But we did the best we could, I was starting to get the feel for a front-wheel drive car.”
Then in 2018, he bought a car from X-car competitor Onie Pierce, Steve Pinkham worked on the chassis, and Racicot’s career started going places.
He finished sixth in the season opener, and then grabbed a second place finish on the first Wild and Wacky night of the season.
“That was pretty exciting,” Racicot said. “I have been coming to the Speedbowl since I was 5, so to finish on the podium meant a lot.”
Two months later he was able to grab an even bigger highlight — his first win.
Racicot’s sponsor list includes Jiggy’s Smoke and Vape Shop of Waterford, Pinkham Builders, Critical Signs, LaBella Wine and Spirits of Uncasville Shaft Motorsports, Rockin’ Ronnie Barnes, EB Riggers, and Laura Marie of Passing Bird Photography.
His wife Brooke, and his three kids, Jacob, Lucas and Kylie are a huge part of his racing team along with the Ratch Racing Team of Quarter Bill, Nick, Tyler, Lou Racicot, Caitlyn, Dave Gargaro, Andy Lee and Josh Pray.
Racicot also has one of the biggest cheering sections at the Speedbowl.
“That’s what makes it special,” Racicot said. “I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing it for the people who support me.”
That support has brought out the best in Pacicot.
” In the races I’ve completed, the worst I’ve finished in seventh place, and I have three podiums.
“We do everything in house. We might not have the fanciest car. But we do have some fun.”
Racicot doesn’t need bells and whistles. The first place trophy he won on Aug. 1 is proof of that.
Racicot will attempt to make it two wins in a row tonight when Wild and Wacky Wednesday gets under way. The opening ceremonies start at 6:45 p.m., followed by feature racing for the Super X-Cars, the Bandoleros, the Legends and the X-Cars. There will also be a special autograph session for the Bandolero drivers starting at 6:45 p.m.
