Eric Goodale’s time behind the wheel on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour consumes many of his weekends during the summer.
He loves driving, he loves spending time at the track, and he loves the thrill of scoring the checkered flag on one of the toughest modified circuits in the entire country. The elation of rolling into Victory Lane really is like nothing else — but it isn’t the only part of the Riverhead, New York, drivers life.
This week, we sat down with Goodale to learn a little bit about his racing past, but also to grasp exactly what it is that Goodale enjoys about life away from the track.
Kyle Souza: Growing up, what do you remember about being a kid and going to the race track? Any vivid memories that tipped you off to become a diehard fan who wanted to get behind the wheel?
Eric Goodale: “My father and his brother, they sponsored a local car at Riverhead Raceway, the driver was Chris Young. I remember going there and going into the pit area after the race and sitting in his car, and I remember telling myself ‘I can drive this car.’ It was just cool because the tires were still warm, there was still heat in the car, they had just raced. I remember sitting in the seat and telling myself that I wanted to drive the car so bad.”
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And so, it beings. The career in racing is now underway, and Goodale spends his time at the track on Saturday night soaking in the environment of the quarter-mile bullring in New York. Other than Chris Young, who Goodale credits to be the real driver who he looked up to when he first started, who else did he see as an idol?
“Ernie Irvan was my favorite race car driver, no matter what he drove, if he was included, I was all in,” Goodale said.
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Taco Time
Souza: What is your favorite food? Is there something you love to eat at the race track, or at home?
Goodale: “I probably haven’t had track food in years because my mother cooks, we are easily the best fed team on the Whelen Modified Tour. My wife knows how to cook, and my mom does, and between the two of them, we go to the track well prepared in the food department. The people who come to the trailer, when they come over to talk to me, I know they are coming over to see what we have out on the table.
Souza: Is there one food that you love more than any other?
Goodale: “Tacos. I could eat tacos at anytime of the day. Anytime they are at the track, I am a little bit more excited.”
Family Life
Souza: How excited do you get to be able to bring your family, including your two children, to the race track with you and let them see everything that goes on and be a part of it? I see that you document some of the events with your children on Instagram, and usually, it can create some laughter.
Goodale: “My kids have absolutely changed my outlook on life. I never thought that I would never want to drive a race car, but if something happened and I needed to step away, I’d be okay with it. Everyone posts everything on social media when they are perfect, but I love the aspect that isn’t perfect about life. I have no intentions of it happening, it’s just where it ends up. Being at the race track and doing the one thing that I love to do, and have them come and be so excited… my wife takes videos of them cheering for me in the stands. It’s unbelievable, I really can’t get enough of it, I love having them involved in something I love to do.”
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Is there something Goodale loves to do other than race? Definitely. He loves to …
“I love mowing my lawn,” Goodale said. “Honestly, I think that happened once I had kids, mowing my lawn means so much to me. It gives me two hours of joy out there, I am not babysitting, I shut my phone off, I just love doing it. The kids, both of them love sitting on my lap and steering it. I don’t have a problem bringing them alone because even if they are talking I can’t hear them anyways. Mowing my lawn, it’s probably the most peaceful thing I do.”
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Time To Get Away
Souza: Is there somewhere that you would like to go away on vacation that you haven’t been before?
Goodale: “In the worst way, I want to go to Alaska. Everything that I am grateful for, it’s depending on having good weather, between work and racing. I am a cold weather guy, though. I love the snow, I love the winter. I love everything about being outdoors when the snow is coming. I look forward to being outside when it’s snowing.”
