Newtown 11-year-old Jake Fattibene took car racing to another level this summer, speeding around the Silver City Quarter Midget track in Meriden to a first-place finish in the Quarter Midgets of America Eastern Grand Nationals in July.

It was the first national race at Fattibene’s home track since 2008 and Fattibene certainly made it memorable as he drove his Bullrider racing chassis in the Heavy Animal Division.

There are a few different options for quarter midgets and Fattibene raced all four cars in the A Main events.

It feels great. I have wanted to run a National Race for so long,” Fattibene said.

He may be a pre-teen but has nerves of race car body steel.

“Fun, it is always fun,” Fattibene said when asked if it was more fun or nerve-racking going against top racers in a national competition.

The hardest part about racing for Fattibene: “Figuring out the car and the way it wants to handle and how the track feels that day.”

The best part? Naturally: “Going fast,” he said.

Fattibene also came in second in the Light World Formula division at another race.

Now in his fifth season racing, Fattibene has experienced success from the get-go. In his first year on the track, he won Novice of the Year accolades.

This young racer has racked up 57 feature wins at various tracks.

It is a family event when Fattibene hits the tracks. Dad Dean Fattibene is crew chief. Mom Melissa is part of crew. Sister Brooke is also a competitive driver in different divisions.

Dean Fattibene’s brother’s children, Abraham and Shelby, also race. Melissa Fattibene’s dad, Rick Fattibene, known at the track as Pepop, is one of Jake’s biggest fans and has been on hand for many of his big wins.

Outside of racing, Fattibene is part of the town’s sixth grade football team and has wrestled in the Newtown Youth Wrestling Association for the last three years.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.