a R bow

The world of auto racing would seem to be as far as one could possibly get from the sleepy, bucolic tranquility of Fairfield County. Yet, our quintessential slice of New England is home to some serious motorsports professionals.

For Anthony Alfredo, (anthonyalfredo.com), the journey from quiet Ridgefield backroads to the high-speed banking of Daytona began while watching races on TV with his NASCAR-loving parents. He started in go-karts when he was only six, balancing racing with his love of stick and ball sports. At 15, he decided to put all his energy into racing, quickly moving up to bigger, faster machinery.

In his first season of Late Model Racing in 2015, Alfredo posted seven top fives, three top threes and a win in only 16 starts. He went on to win the Southeast Limited Late Model Series Pro Division Champion in 2016. In 2021, he was the runner-up for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the Cup Series. This year, 24-year old Alfredo is running the full NASCAR Xfinity Series with BJ McLeod Motorsports, piloting his 700 horsepower #78 Chevrolet Camaro. When he’s not on track, he’s still racing, honing his skills on iRacing.

Of the nearly 300 members of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, only 11 are women. Ridgefield’s Judy Stropus was inducted into the Hall in 2021 in recognition of her talents and accomplishments across the automotive motorsports world. While Stropus has an impressive racing resume, competing in a wide range of series, and even running in the outlaw Cannonball cross country race, she earned her place in motorsports history due to her unmatched skills in timing and scoring. Working with the top teams and drivers of the day including Roger Penske and Mark Donohue, Stropus was able to flawlessly keep track of multiple cars during sportscar endurance races. She is legendary for her unmatched ability to accurately score 24-hour races, without taking a break! Even though she no longer races— beyond the occasional celebrity go-kart event—Stropus is not slowing down. While juggling a long roster of PR clients, she’s also in high demand as a guest speaker and a judge at America’s finest vintage car events, including Connecticut’s annual Greenwich Concours. Throughout Fairfield

County, Stropus can be seen driving her well preserved (and quite adorable) 1952 Lancia Ardea on our winding back roads and hosting her hot ticket monthly auto enthusiast luncheons.

Ridgefield’s Leigh Diffey is one of the most respected and knowledgeable commentators in US motorsports. Even if you don’t know the name, you know the voice. Diffey’s Aussie roots are quickly apparent as he’s delivering his expert commentary on INDYCAR, NASCAR, IMSA and Supercross. With NBC Sports’ studios in Stamford, Diffey moved from Charlotte to Ridgefield in 2014 so he could spend less time traveling and more time with his wife and two boys while anchoring Formula 1 races. When he’s not working, you may spot Diffey riding bikes around town with the family or frequenting his favorite local restaurant, Luc’s. Beyond motorsports, Diffey is the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports coverage of Olympics bobsled and luge in the winter and track & field in the summer games. Having known Diffey for nearly 20 years, I can testify to his incredible work ethic. He is as prepared and professional as the athletes he covers and shows an unwavering passion and intimate understanding of both the events and the participants. Each race weekend, fans look forward to Diffey’s trademark call: “it’s time to bring the action!”

Connecticut has a rich motorsports history, from modifieds, to dragsters, to sports cars. Until 1981, Danbury was home to the Danbury Racearena, on the grounds of the Danbury Fair which would draw up to 10,000 cheering spectators on Saturday nights. The state’s most famous auto racing facility is Lime Rock Park (limerock.com) in the northwest corner.

Set among beautiful rolling hills, Lime Rock delivers a wonderful experience for fans who arrive early to claim a spot on the grass. I recommend the infield Spectator Hill which overlooks some of the track’s best action from Big Bend through to the newly named Paul Newman Straight. Lime Rock was Newman’s home track where he competed often, chalking up numerous wins including, when he was 82 years old, in a 900 horsepower Corvette!

Opened in 1957, Lime Rock has hosted some of the world’s greatest cars and drivers. In the mid-eighties, Skip Barber, exFormula 1 racer and founder of the famous racing school, became the park’s owner. Under his stewardship, the track thrived and grew with the creation of the Lime Rock Driver’s Club. In 2021, Barber sold a controlling interest in the operation to a group of local investors who share his vision to preserve the track. The General Partners of the ownership group are Bedford’s Dicky Riegel, Charles Mallory of Greenwich, and Bill Rueckert of Southport. Mallory, an avid auto collector, is the founder of the Greenwich Hospitality Group which owns and operates the Delamar boutique hotels and restaurants in Greenwich, Southport and West Hartford. Rueckert is a BMW racer and an avid member of the Lime Rock Driver’s Club. He has more laps on the track than many pro racers.

We spoke with Riegel, former President and CEO of Airstream, and Lime

Rock’s new CEO, about their plans. The team is investing heavily in improving the facility and customer experience, including an upcoming onsite hotel development— overseen by Mallory—new garages, new food services, and much more. They’re also expanding the calendar to attract younger and more diverse fans. In addition to the annual major events including the Memorial Day Classic, IMSA Northeast Grand Prix on July 20-21, and the Labor Day weekend Historic Festival, Lime Rock is hosting GRIDLIFE Circuit Legends, August 18-20. With a variety of events including drifting and Time Attack, GRIDLIFE attracts the youngest demographic in all of motorsports. One of the most visible and entertaining improvements is Camp Airstream, where you can rent one of three shiny trailers for the ultimate track hospitality experience.

Serious racing however, is not just for the pros. For Northeast Porsche enthusiasts who want to explore the limits of both the car and themselves, Speedsport Tuning in Danbury (sstauto.com) has a Competition Department that handles everything from car prep and transportation to track support and coaching. Geared towards amateurs of all levels, Speedsport has helped their clients win countless podiums and dozens of national championships. From Watkins Glen and Sebring to Road America and COTA, Speedsport’s expert staff is helping racers live out their motorsports dreams on the country’s best tracks. •