Behind the Curtain: Judi Bigelow Reflects on Tom Bigelow’s Racing Journey
Behind the Curtain: Judi Bigelow Reflects on Tom Bigelow’s Racing Journey
A lot of people have interviewed Tom Bigelow over the years, but for this feature we wanted to step away from the spotlight and take a look behind the curtain with the person who knows him best, his wife, Judi Bigelow.
For Judi, the story begins back in 1980 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where she first met Tom. “Probably not,” she said when asked if she realized then how important racing would become in their lives. “I met him at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he took me around the track on a rainy day… but I wasn’t really involved in racing at that point.” The connection didn’t fully develop until later that year, and while she considered herself a race fan, she admits she had no idea just how deeply the sport would shape their future.
Watching Tom’s career grow from its early days into the highest levels of racing was something Judi says she didn’t fully grasp in real time. “I didn’t even realize it until after he started slowing down,” she reflected. What she remembers most is not just the results, but the mindset difference between them. “He expected to go and win every race. I expected him to go and do the best he could.”
That competitive edge, combined with a genuine personality, is what Judi believes made Tom so popular with fans. “He’s so personable,” she said. “No matter where he is, if someone recognizes him, he’ll stop, shake their hand, ask their name, and sign an autograph. That’s probably what people see in him.”
Tom and Judi Bigelow pictured at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These are friends they met through racing and still vacation/stay in contact today.
Life in racing, however, came with its challenges. Balancing family life around a demanding schedule wasn’t something she overthought at the time, it was simply life. “People ask me that all the time,” she said. “I just think I was young and didn’t know any difference. I worked 40 hours a week, and when work was over, away we went. That was just how it was.”
Like many families in the sport, danger was always present, but rarely spoken about directly. “That was more an accepted part of the sport,” Judi explained. “You didn’t really talk about it, because if you did, it felt like you were inviting it.”
Looking back now, Judi says it can be overwhelming to see how far the sport has come and how Tom is remembered. “He thinks he’s a washed-up race car driver,” she said with honesty, “but I look at the awards and everything we have and know there’s much more to it than that.”
One of the most emotional moments in recent years came when Winchester Speedway and the yourBigplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour community honored Tom by naming a race after him. “It was very emotional for me and it still is,” she said. “I know how much sprint cars mean to him, and how much Winchester means to him. If nothing else ever happens to him before he passes away, he knows sprint cars came back to Winchester and that means alot.”
When asked what stands out most after a lifetime in racing, Judi didn’t hesitate. “The friends we met along the way,” she said simply.
For all the wins, the miles, and the memories, it’s the relationships built through the sport that remain the most meaningful part of the journey both on and off the track.
Race Information
The 2nd Annual Neal Metal Recycling & Processing Tom Bigelow Showdown is set for Sunday, June 28th at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana. The event will feature the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, Thunder Roadsters, and the HRA Late Model Sportsman. Pit gates will open at 8:00am, front gates will open at 10:00am, practice is scheduled for 10:15am, and racing is set to begin at 2:30pm. The event will be streamed live on Racing America, and pre-sale tickets for the event can be purchased online by clicking HERE.
