Jennifer Hatch gearing up for another fun racing season

Jennifer Hatch, pictured alongside her car during the 2025 season, is excited to jump into another year enjoying her lifelong passion for racing.

By Spencer Seymour

Jennifer Hatch, a service advisor at St. Marys Ford and realtor at PC275 Realty, is getting ready for another year of auto racing.

More than three decades in, Hatch hasn’t been able to give up racing.

“I’ve been racing since 1993,” Hatch told the Independent. “I’ve had three kids through that, four grandkids through that, and I have to be one of the oldest women out there racing. I always say I’m going to retire, and then I never retire. Every time I think about selling my car, there’s just no way. I just can’t.”

The reason for that, according to Hatch, is racing has been a part of her life since the moment she was born.

“It’s been such a large part of my life,” said Hatch. “I’ve been going to the racetrack since I was three months old because my dad raced and is still drag racing at 82. I was born in March, and by June, I was sitting in the stands, so that’s 54 years of being at a racetrack. I think it’s in your bloodline and your bloodstream. I’m definitely an adrenaline junkie. I ride motorcycles. I’m always on the go. I have two full-time jobs. My adrenaline is always amped up, so I feel like it’s an adrenaline thing that keeps me coming back.”

For Hatch, nowadays, she strives most to simply enjoy herself every time she goes to the racetrack.

“My main goal is always to have fun. I don’t ever want to come away from the racetrack upset about how the night went. Even a bad night at the racetrack is better than no night at the racetrack, … so number one, we definitely have a tonne of fun. We always have a lot of friends come and hang out. We have had a lot of opportunities to do extra things, like car shows or a sponsor’s events. We take extra time to participate in autograph sessions and to go up in the stands, meeting fans and selling shirts and hats. Selling our swag is huge for us.”

Hatch sells T-shirts, tank tops, hoodies and hats with her car’s affectionate nickname, Big Booty Judy, which she put a bigger focus on last year. You can buy pieces of merchandise by visiting Hatch at St. Marys Ford or by messaging her through her Facebook page, Jenny Hatch. In 2025, Hatch won the best appearing car at Delaware Speedway.

Her 30-plus years in racing have created countless connections across the continent and made her a mentor for younger racers.

“I feel like anywhere I travel – I could be in Mexico, or California, or downtown Toronto – I will know somebody. That’s when people who are travelling with me comment, ‘Do you know somebody everywhere?’ And I do because I’ve just been around that long.

“I take that role (of mentor) pretty seriously,” Hatch continued. “I always stop and talk to the younger females who are racing. I know a couple of them have said, ‘Honestly, until our talk, I was really frustrated, but now I see it a different way and thanks for stopping and chatting.’ And then with the guys, I’m just one of the guys, quite honestly.”

Hatch explained the advice she offers to the younger female racers.

“I always tell them, ‘Don’t forget, you’re having fun. You’re doing what you want to do. You’re doing what you want to love.’ So, keep your expectations reasonable and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. And give the boys back what they give you. Don’t be timid. If you’re going to get a door slam, then give a door slam. Don’t feel like you’re not worthy of being here because you have every right to be here as anybody else does.”

Looking ahead to the coming racing season, Hatch noted she doesn’t want to miss any races this year.

“I am going to attempt to race all the races,” said Hatch. “Last year, I knew I wasn’t going to be in the points. I had some other responsibilities that I had to take care of a couple of nights, so I missed a couple of nights in points. But this year, I’m going to take that a lot more seriously. I’m going to run all the races, and if I can’t be out one night, I’m going to find a driver to take my car out and keep us in the points. I’d like to be in the top 15 at the end of the season.”

Hatch added the biggest focus in the offseason has been to increase her car’s speed.

“I would say 100 per cent of our focus is on being faster,” Hatch said. “There are over 50 cars every Friday night at Delaware Speedway, and we’re a top-20 car, and that gets really frustrating, knowing that no matter how good a night you have, that car is only capable of being in the top 20. So, we’re putting a new motor in, we’ve got a new clutch and we’re just updating a bunch of stuff and trying to be faster than last year.”

Hatch also emphasized her immense gratitude to her sponsors, which includes St. Marys Ford, which Hatch noted has been behind her every step of the way and helped her with anything she’s needed. Additionally, Hatch credited Kent Robson of Robson Scrap Metal for being vital to installing a new engine and getting her car to where it needs to be.

Red Rock Construction and Sunset Diner, both of St. Marys, are also generous sponsors of Hatch.

From outside of St. Marys, Hatch is supported by Finch Construction, Batten Built Construction, Jay’s Detail Shop, Coursey Line Electric and Tracy Ellis, her business partner at PC275 Realty. Hatch also thanked David Rockwood, Mike Lamont, Zach Hatch and Jamie Hartley for all their help, and goes to her uncle Russ and aunt Connie for the use of the shop and dragging the car to the track every Friday night.

Hatch has one open space for a new sponsor. Interested businesses can email jennifer@stmarysford.com.