Jeffrey Goodale finds a platform in motor racing, despite cystic fibrosis

Jeffrey Goodale has a favorite saying: "Everyone is the same size in the race car." At Riverhead Raceway, that thought reassures him. It gives him confidence. It allows him to fit in and have fun doing something he loves.

"It doesn't matter who you are because you can still compete," said Goodale, 20, who is battling cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. "I want to be able to say that I'm no different than anybody else. And going to the track does make me feel good about myself and winning races gives me a confidence booster. I think, for anybody with any type of disease, racing is one of the best sports you can do because you don't need to be a 200-pound guy who is super tall. Size isn't much of a factor and that's one of the things I really like about racing."

At 5-8 and 135 pounds, Goodale proves that weekly. Though he said he sometimes feels fatigued while competing, he never has had to stop midrace.

"I don't see any big disadvantages in the sport for me," said Goodale, who lives in Riverhead.

After competing in go-karts and in the legends division, Goodale is now a rookie in the modifieds, where there's more horsepower, bigger cars and fierce competition.

"It's definitely different, but it's still racing and this is definitely a lot more fun," Goodale said. "I can't wait to progress and get more comfortable. We're not looking for any top-five finishes, we're just looking to finish the races and take small steps. It's hard not be star-struck. To me, the people I'm racing with now are people I always thought of as town celebrities."

Those who know his story consider Goodale the local star, actually. He said that as he's grown older, he's recognized the importance of having a platform to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis.

"In my mind, I'm doing something that's incredible. I mean, what kid doesn't want to be a race car driver," Goodale said. "I involve CF more than I used to and it's something I think about more now, but not in a bad way. I just want to be able to show people I can do it, and despite what I have, not be seen as different by anybody else. And when I'm at the track, I'm just like everyone else: a local race car driver having fun."