Sandy Hook’s own Jake Fattibene, an eighth-grader, has wrapped up his quarter midget racing career with an impressive finish, securing Quarter Midgets of America Championships in both the Unrestricted Animal and Half divisions at Silver City Race Track in Meriden this fall. What's more, Fattibene was recognized with the Driver of the Year award which was presented to him by Ryan Preece, a NASCAR Cup Series driver, at Aria in Prospect on December 8.

Quarter midget racing, a motorsport designed for youth drivers between the ages of 5 and 16, features scaled-down, open-wheel sprint cars built for racing on 1/20th-mile tracks across the United States, allowing young racers to hone the discipline and control needed in motorsports. The Silver City Track has a proud history of nurturing top drivers, including 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano and 2024 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Champion David Gravel, both of whom began their careers as youngsters racing quarter midgets in Meriden.

For Fattibene, the sport quickly became a family affair. His father, Dean Fattibene, was instrumental in building and setting up his cars, while his mother, Melissa Fattibene, and his sister, Brooke, who also raced, supported him every step of the way.

By his third year, Fattibene was spending countless hours with his dad in their Sandy Hook barn-turned-race-shop, learning the intricacies of building, tuning, and setting up his cars. Throughout the demanding 20-race season, which runs from late April until October, Monday through Thursday nights were dedicated to car prep, with the father-son car racing enthusiast duo meticulously preparing for each weekend. Every Friday afternoon, the family loaded the race trailer and headed to the track, returning home after a weekend of racing on Sunday mornings. Melissa and Brooke provided unwavering support, cheering him on and helping keep operations smooth. Together, the Fattibene family’s commitment and sacrifices shaped Jake’s work ethic and prepared him for the rigors of competitive racing.

After a challenging 2023 season in which Jake placed second in three divisions, he and his father set ambitious goals for 2024. Working with their longtime partners — Bull Rider Race Cars out of Crystal Springs, Penn., for the chassis and Raptor Racing Engines in Mooresville, N.C., for the engines — they hand-built Fattibene’s championship-winning Unrestricted Animal car.

“Last season was a disappointment for us as a team and we just wanted to use it as motivation to get stronger for the 2024 season. The competition in the northeast over the last four years has gotten so competitive and we faced so many great racing teams,” Fattibene said. “I knew right away after we started testing in early April this year that we would have a chance for the championships. The cars were so good early on and I knew it was just a matter of staying consistent. It was pretty touch and go as the season wound down and we just worked so hard to stay on track and finish strong.”

Fattibene’s Half car, which runs in the fastest and most powerful class in quarter midget racing with lap times nearing 5.5 seconds, was built by Robbie Bahre Racing out of Canton. Despite a mid-season setback when three custom engines blew, the team regrouped, winning the last two races of the year and securing the division title by a narrow margin.

Fattibene’s dedication over the years has led to numerous achievements, including seven championships and a Rookie of the Year award. His standout 2022 Grand National Championship in the Unrestricted Animal division marked one of his proudest moments, underscoring his commitment and skill against top competitors nationwide.

Reflecting on his final season, this young racer expressed deep gratitude for the people and organizations that supported him. He especially thanked Robbie Bahre Racing, whose craftsmanship and support were vital to his success. Local sponsors, such as Dodgingtown Garage in Bethel, Mcdermott Auto Group, and Randy, Ginger, and Ron Buttner of the local cover bands The Zoo and Zac’n Fried, provided essential resources to help him compete at the highest level.

As Fattibene turns his focus to wrestling and football, the Quarter Midget racing community will remember him not only for his talent but also for his sportsmanship and dedication. His journey from Rookie of the Year to seven-time champion serves as an inspiration to young racers, showing that success is built on hard work, practice, family support, and countless hours behind the scenes.

With his final championships under his belt, Fattibene steps away from quarter midget racing on a high note, ready to take on new challenges in other sports. His legacy of perseverance and passion will continue to inspire all who followed his remarkable career.

“Being at the track is so great and I will miss it. Racing for me has always been so rewarding and once I realized that the more effort I put in to dialing the cars in and practicing them, the better results we got. I have met so many great people and I really enjoyed hanging with my friends and helping out some of the younger drivers,” Fattibene said. “I plan to still be involved as much as I can to help them along. Watching them do well is so rewarding.”