Nancy Cartwright, best known as the voice of Bart Simpson on the hit sitcom “The Simpsons,” indulged in one of her other passions on Tuesday at Infineon Raceway by taking part in a half-day course at the Jim Russell Racing Schools. Cartwright, who has been a recreational race-car driver for nearly four years, obtained her NASCAR Racing License on March 5 and has been primarily racing in Late Model stock cars at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California.
She hopped in an open-wheel car on Tuesday with the Jim Russell Racing Schools, which is based at Infineon Raceway, to test the serpentine circuit. “I’ve seen a NASCAR race here in Sonoma but I’ve never driven on it,” Cartwright said. “To be honest, this is the first opportunity I’ve had in an open-wheel car and I couldn’t pass it up. I’m not sure where racing will take me but I’m enjoying it right now.”
Cartwright has been the voice of Bart Simpson, among others, for nearly 20 years as “The Simpsons” has become one of the most successful television programs in history. She is also part of “The Kellys,” an Internet-based sitcom (www.teamkellyracing.com) that is centered on motor racing and was inspired by the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The series was produced and developed for www.nascar.com. A spin-off of “The Kellys,” titled “Brenda’s Horoscope” is in the works, as well.
“You really get sucked up into the vortex of what NASCAR is. At least I did,” said Cartwright, 49, who has hired a racing instructor, Kenton Gray, from Southern California. Cartwright was in Sonoma on Tuesday filming a segment for “Trackside at Infineon Raceway,” which airs weekly on the San Francisco Fox affiliate, KTVU-TV, as well as the Sacramento Fox affiliate, KTXL-TV.
“I’ve always had the desire to do this and (my instructor) Kenton has been a huge help. For now I’m having a fun time with his,” said Cartwright, whose first experience racing was with the Richard Petty Experience at California Speedway in 2001.
