Hoffman’s career is getting better with age Westbrook driver prepares for extra-distance Super-X car race

WATERFORD — During his 46-year racing career, Denny Hoffman has learned one thing.

“Fools rush in,” Hoffman said. “I don’t.”

That philosophy of being patient and allowing the race come to you should come in handy Wednesday when Hoffman competes in the biggest Super-X Car of the season as part of Wild and Wacky Wednesday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

The Super-X Cars will battle for 35 laps. The X-Cars, Legend Cars and Bandoleros also will be part of the festivities.

Hoffman and the Super X Cars, however, will be in the spotlight for their only extra-distance race of the season.

Hoffman’s 1977 Monte Carlo has become one of the most popular cars at the Bowl. Hoffman, 58, still feels he has enough juice left in his batteries to be a contender.

“I might be a dying breed, but I think you’re never too old to get into a race car,” Hoffman said, who will be looking for his first career win Wednesday. “I think I’m a better driver now than I was back them when I started. I learned you don’t have to race hard every lap.. You have to learn to pick and choose your battles. You have to know when to rush in and know when to keep your nose out of it.”

The strategy has worked for the past two races for Hoffman, with back to back third-place finishes. A serious wreck on opening weekend, however, and a disqualification has set him back.

The first-race crash was particularly disturbing to Hoffman.

“It was the worst hit I’ve ever had in my racing career and I’ve had a lot of them,” Hoffman said. “I hit the wall so hard I broke the brake booster right off the firewall and I broke the exhaust manifold in three places. That hurts.” It was a hard 10 days getting the car fixed and trying to get some rest.”

Hoffman, however, had plenty of motivation to come back.

“I heard a lot from other drivers and track officials encouraging me,: Hoffman said. :And I heard from fans who wanted to see the 6X back. I didn’t want to disappoint them.”

So far he hasn’t, even though his car hasn’t performed the way he wants it to, even with back-to-back podium finishes/

“The car has been flat,” Hoffman said. “So we changed carburetors this week and hopefully we have found the problem,” Hoffman said. 

That new setup will be tested Wednesday for 35 laps, 10 laps more than the regular distance.

“The car is better on the longer runs,” Hoffman said. “As the race goes on, most of the cars get looser and the drivers get more desperate. I just try to keep my tires cool and wait for the right moment.”

His car is a big part of the Hoffman story.

“It was a car that raced at the Bowl years ago and I bought it for $500,” Hoffman said. “I bought a clean body and took everything out of the car and put it all in the new body, along with a new motor.” Hoffman said. “I was struggling last year and I made a radical change that no one said would work. And I was finally able to drive it off the corner. So now I can be competitive.”

Hoffman says he has been racing since he was 12.

“I drove go-karts, motorcycles, drag racing, and I was a street racer in Middletown for many years,” Hoffman said. “I moved on to Stafford and then to Riverside Park Speedway.”

His racing career, however, was suddenly put on hold.

“I became a single parent to a 4- and a 2-year-old, so I traded in my race cars for a camper and raised my family.”

Four years later, he returned, bringing with him the classic Monte Carlo.

It’s a classic car has some giddy-up in it.

“At the start of the year, my goal was to win the track championship,” Hoffman said. “After a wreck and a DQ, I think I’m out of the running. So now my goal is to win a race. And I think I can do it.”

His sponsors include critical signs and Jay’s Landscaping and Property Management.

“And I’m desperately looking for more,” Hoffman said. “I could even be more competitve.”

Adam Gray helps him with his car, but Hoffman is basically a hands on driver.

“I turn every bolt on the car,” Hoffman said. “I’m a perfectionist. But every week my car comes to the track clean with all the bumps banged out looking good.

Wednesday he’ll want to look good for 35 laps. After all, fools may rush in, but Hoffman wants to show that he isn’t fooling around.

Wild and Wacky Notes

Maddie Harkin had her two-race Bandolero winning streak snapped last week, but she still leads by four points in the standings, despite missing one race. Nick Hovey is in second place … Marc Shafer became the first repeat winner in the Super-X Cars when he collected his second win last week. He trails Dave Yardley, however, by 8 points in the standings … The closest Wednesday night battle is in the X-Car division. Eddie Loomis leads Corey Caddick by only two points. Bill Rheaume is third, 10 points behind … The standings are almost as close in the Legends division, with Mike Blaskey leading by four points over Peter Bennett…. The opening ceremonies will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Bandoleros will start the show with a 25-lap feature, followed by the X Cars for 25-laps. The Big Wheel race will be next, followed by the 25-lap Legends race. The Wacky event will be the Water Balloon Bucket toss. Then the Super-X Cars will take center stage for their 35-lap feature.

Press release from the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

For more information, contact Mike Serluca at mikes@speedbowlct.com