RPW Column: The Strong Woman Behind The Promoters: Susan Hazzard; Making Her Own Tracks At Glen Ridge

RPW Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – Many times when you mention a race track, the promoter’s name usually comes up along with it. They are the ones that gets the acknowledgement and most of the credit. However, sometimes behind a good man is usually a good women.

We have the privilege of getting up close and personal with these special women that are behind the scenes of the race track. You could say they are the strong force and supporters of some of the most successful promoters of the Northeast. You could even say they’re the backbone.

We’ll take a look at their paths to how they became involved in the sport and what what their responsibilities are at the racetrack…and maybe a little bit more.

Part five of this series is with another strong and energetic women in racing, Susan Hazzard. Hazzard is the wife of Butch Hazzard who is the co-promoter at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park with Ray Sefrin.

I first asked the 36-year-old when her first experience with racing was.

“I didn’t go to the races at a young age,” Hazzard said. “We had a big family farm and with that came responsibilities. We never even took vacations. It was a Sunday to Sunday job and my life then was the farm, but I finally got a chance to go to the races back in 2008.”

Where was that?

“My friends and I ventured down to the Fonda Speedway for only a nights that year,” she said. “I really enjoyed watching the races, but I had other priorities that didn’t let me go like I wanted to.”

In addition to the farm, Susan took on another job, which in turn, kept her kind of close to the Fonda Fairgrounds.

“I had another job, away from the farm, that didn’t take me far away from the track,” she said. “I was the Montgomery County Fonda Fair concession manager. That had me contracting the food and novelties booth for the fair, mapping out where they would be displayed throughout the Fairgrounds.”

Now, you may be asking…how did this lovely young lady end up meeting her now husband. It actually happened…because of the Fair.

“Butch worked the grounds and actually did my job prior to me getting the position,” she said with a laugh. “I knew of him but we didn’t really speak. We’d see each other in passing but I think it was mutual that we really didn’t like each other then.”

So what changed?

“He eventually started talking to me and one thing led to another,” she said. “I figured why not, and we started dating in 2010 when I was 26. Butch, being heavy into stock cars, actually took me to my first Super DIRT Week. That was also my last. Even though I’m happy the event is still going on, Oswego just doesn’t have the same atmosphere or prestige for me, unfortunately.”

Hazzard got away from the farm a little more after she began dating Butch and started going to the races more. She even became part of Modified driver AJ Romano’s crew. She kind of had an in with the team.

“It did help that my boyfriend was helping AJ for years before we started dating,” she said. “It was fun. I wasn’t afraid to get my hands dirty. I was changing gears, working on tires and cleaning parts.”

In 2013, three years into their relationship it was time for them to tie the knot. The two would have their first child, a daughter named Peyton, two years after that.

Life was about to get more interesting for the Hazzards in 2017. Halfway through that year, changes started to arise at Glen Ridge. Sefrin and businessman Mike Parillo took over promotional duties for the speedway.

” Butch was hired on to work for them in the tower,” she said. “I wanted to help out as well so I could be part of things with my husband. My first job was working the back pit gate with Michele (Ray’s wife) and I did that through the end of 2018”

Also in 2017, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Sofia, to their family. Things progressed with the track, and to start the 2019 season, the Ridge saw even more changes. Parillo left and Butch was named co-promoter.

“I started that season off still at the pit shack but I wanted to do more,” she said. “I felt I was ready to handle more responsibilities.”

She just wanted to be there for her husband and help as much as she could.

“Being that Butch was in a new position, I thought maybe i could do more to take some burden off him. I wanted to free him up on what he needed to during race nights in his new position.”

She helped him out a lot.

“The decision was made, and up in the tower I went,” She said. “Of course I needed to be taught the ropes to do such an important job. I knew nothing on how it was done. You could say I was going in head first for this challenge.”

Now, this was yet another job where she was following in Butch’s footsteps.

“My teacher (laughing) took a deep breath and patiently showed me how to do the jobs, and do them correctly,” she said. “Butch showed me what he had been doing and how to be successful at it. It was a big leap and certainly a pressure job. There was no room for error, but I was up for the challenge.”

What did she have to do?

“My new role behind the scenes was doing drivers registrations, lineups for heats and the features,” she said. “I was also doing some unofficial scoring, the handicapping, running the official finish to Michele for the driver to get paid, and putting the lineups on the pit board.”

That’s not all she did. She became a ‘Jackie’ of all Trades.

“I also was involved in the Kids Club at the Speedway,” she said. “That job actually started for me at the beginning of 2018. In addition, I ran the 50/50 and handled our end of the year Awards Banquet as well.”

Does she get to watch any of the nights racing? You’d be surprised with how busy she is.

“Yes I do,” she said. “However, not like watching as a fan. I’m watching to help the race director if something happens. I can bring it to his attention if need be, just like an extra pair of eyes.”

Is she still a fan of the sport?

“Very much so,” she said. “I personally just don’t have the time to go to other tracks as much as I’d like to. I’m still very involved at our family farm and work at my dad’s greenhouse selling plants. We also have Hay Crops in the summer.”

Does she feel it’s important for women to be in racing?

“Yes that’s not even a question,” she said. “Women should be equal to the men. I feel no one person is better than anyone else. When you look around in the pits, there are women supporting and helping on race team’s pit crews. We’re all in this together.”

It’s only been a few years, but what’s been your best part of her job at the track?

“I’d have to say just being involved daily in racing,” She said. “Getting to see the people on race day and seeing their passion is great.”

The worst?

“That’d be seeing the big wrecks,” she said. “You never want to see it, but now I really don’t.”

In the new world we’re living in with this COVID-19 virus, how has it affected Susan and the race track?

“I personally am still working,” she said. “I have another job as a Residential Manager for Liberty ARC. As far as the track goes, we’ve been waiting to see what happens, I’m not really involved in the logistics for opening the track. That’s up to the powers to be.”

In closing, Susan stated that she still has a lot more learning to do.

“I want to be as efficient as possible in helping race nights run smooth,” she said. “I have say, I’ve got a great teacher in my husband. I’ve made mistakes, but I’m looking to erase them with more time under my belt.”

She just can’t wait to get racing back to normal.

“I certainly miss seeing everyone,” she said. “I miss the smell of fuel and the sounds of the racing engines. I’m very lucky to be a part of the Ridge. Michele and Ray (Sefrin) have been just phenomenal to us. I enjoy meeting new people and getting to meet the drivers that I always just heard about. It’s nice being able to put a face with a driver’s name.”

They really are one big family on that ‘lil quarter-mile up on the hill!