Newtowners got a chance to meet NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) driver Teddy Hodgdon and his crew during a special community event on Sunday, June 28.

Held outside the RE/MAX Right Choice office on South Main Street, people had a chance to meet Teddy, along with his family and his team, hear stories from the track, and get an autograph. People could get a close look at Teddy's car, a bright white and orange NASCAR-modified Fury. As people talked amongst themselves, they could enjoy some coffee, tea, and egg and cheese sandwiches courtesy of Full Bloom Catering.

One of the many sponsors decorating Teddy's car is The Landau Team, with RE/MAX Right Choice right beneath it. Teddy met David Landau, a realtor with RE/MAX Right Choice, through his team's shop owner, Dennis Bloom.

It was there he learned that Landau used to be a drag racing mechanic and loved motor sports; Landau joined Connie Kallitta’s professional drag racing team in the early 1990's, and toured the country's National Hot Rod Association's drag racing circuit as a crew member.

"We had an opportunity to do a partnership on our team, so we came into the shop one day, started talking, and we hit it off," Teddy said. "We haven't known each other for long, but it’s already been a great partnership."

Being a NASCAR driver is a full circle moment for Teddy, who has been racing since he was 7. He grew up with racing through his father, Ted Hodgdon, who used to race himself 30 years ago. Teddy said his father used to always bring him to modified races as a kid, and it had been his dream ever since.

"It was always something to dream of, but to actually get the opportunity to do it … it's been awesome," Teddy said. "If I were to interview my 10-year-old self, he’d be going crazy right now."

His mom, Kathy Hodgdon, still remembers when Teddy and her husband came home one night after going to the races.

"Teddy said, 'Mommy, I'm gonna get a race car,' and I said, 'No, you're not.' And then next thing I know, there was a go-kart," Kathy laughed.

She was particularly excited to see her son's love of the sport blossom because she grew up around races in Daytona Beach, Fla., the birthplace of NASCAR.

"So it didn’t bother me one bit," Kathy said. "And we’ve been a close-knit family traveling all over the place since then."

Teddy won the Legends Cars Semi-Pro World Championship, became SK Light Champion at Stafford in 2019, and earned a podium finish at the World Series at New Smyrna Speedway, among other career accomplishments. He made his NWMT debut last year, and is currently in the running to be NWMT Rookie of The Year.

Now 25, Teddy is happy to have spent the past several years racing in the Modified division.

Racing has also provided great bonding time for Teddy and his dad, as he said, "It's mostly me, him, and one other guy in the shop."

He added, "We're turning wrenches on [my car] and trying to make the thing faster ... so it's a great time for us to connect."

They are far from alone; at the track, Teddy said they will have three to five other people helping out, usually up to eight people between crew members and family members.

"[Racing] is very much a team sport," Teddy said. "We have a dedicated mechanic, a dedicated tire guy, a guy who does only setup. There’s a lot of things that have to go right on the track. A lot of spotlight gets put on the driver, but it's mostly the crew that gets the job done."

Ted, who said he works almost every night in the shop with Teddy, said racing has helped improve his son's mechanical and public speaking ability. He called their journey, from racing in go-karts nearly 20 years ago to traveling as a family for professional NASCAR races, a full circle moment.

"I'm just very proud of him," Ted said about his son. "He’s turned into a fine young man, and he’s a great driver. It’s fun to watch him grow as a person and a driver."

Over his career, Teddy learned that he has great support system around him. He said he has a family that sacrificed a great deal for him to race and make his dreams come true.

"I've learned to take your dreams and just make the most of life, 'cause … you never know what’ll happen next, right? You only live once," Teddy said. "You gotta do what you can while you can still do it."

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.