Longtime Clinton Raceway Marketing Manager, Jessica Carnochan, is stepping down after 17 years.
Following a lengthy career at the half-mile oval track, Carnochan confirmed on March 2nd she will be stepping away starting in 2021 to spend more time with family and focus on her businesses, Marita’s Fashion Boutique in Clinton and Bend Photo and Design. Across her 17 year career at the Clinton Raceway, Carnochan helped make the biennial Legends Day and annual Charity Driver’s Challenge into signature events. The Legends Day has raised more than $225,000 for the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation, while the Charity Driver’s Challenge has provided more than $325,000 to a variety of local organizations.
Carnochan also helped turn the raceway's Day at the Races fundraisers into great days for local non-profits. Every Day at the Races event gave local groups an opportunity to raise funds at the track by hosting barbecues, bake sales, silent auctions and more.
“The last maybe two seasons, it’s sort of been; was that it, was that the last one? It’s been a long time, so is that enough? But then I’d always think no, no, I still enjoy this. And I really still do enjoy it, but I think after last season when things were so, so different — and probably this season again would look extremely different — that was when I realized,” says Carnochan, whose favourite part of her work was the weekly interaction with fans. “That’s what I love the most, so when you take that away it’s kind of like well, what’s going on here, this is what I love. I know that’s maybe not the best thing to base it on because I am sure there will be a time when the people come back and everything looks somewhat the way it used to, but I think it was just time. Change is good.”
“Jess was around for I guess 18 or 19 driver challenges and would have been here for all the Legends Days — working for OLG for the first one, but was here for all of them — and that’s an event that really put us on the map for fundraising and branding our track for wagering,” says Ian Fleming, Clinton Raceway’s Director of Racing. “That helped us last year when we went to try and simulcast, especially in the States, people kind of remembered the place. So she was a big part of helping out with that.”
“I’d love to go back as a fan. I think that would be so fun. I will definitely be there on some Sunday afternoons to take it in and just enjoy that side of it,” adds Carnochan, a Seaforth, Ontario resident. “I met so many wonderful people through these 17 years that I am sure I will stay in touch with.”
In the official release, Clinton Raceway will not be replacing Carnochan for the 2021 season, because of "the uncertainty about fan attendance and the knowledge that her expertise is just a phone call away."