RPW Exclusive: Passion Is What Got Brian Borst Back Behind The Wheel At Fonda Speedway

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – SCHOHARIE, NY – There’s a driver in the Sportsman class at the Fonda Speedway who’s been around for a while. His name is Brian Borst. If you don’t know Brian, allow me to tell you a little bit about this man.

Brian had a lot of success in the Sportsman division at the “Track of Champions” back in the early 90s and it carried through to the beginning of the 2000’s. He was always a contender for the top five in points, with a best finish of second during that stretch while contenting for the title.

If he wasn’t in the hunt for a win on any given evening, you could find him in the top five in his familiar purple #69. With the quality of competition in the Sportsman ranks during this time, it was quite an accomplishment to keep his name in the mix.

Now, at the end of the 2003 season, Borst stepped away from the sport, but has found his way back. Let find out more about the driver from Schoharie NY who journeyed back to the sport he loves this season.

Brian’s racing career started back in 1991 when he was able to get behind the wheel of a Street Stock, finding his way to Checkered Board Square.

After that, he got a chance to step up to the Sportsman division, driving his brother Kevin’s #9k Sportsman car. Kevin didn’t race it on a weekly basis. Jack Miller was also behind the wheel at times.

After discussion it between his dad and brother, the trio decided to give Brian a shot behind the wheel and see how he would do in a center steer racecar. In 1992, they debuted the purple #69 (this number was for the year he was born). Brian continued in this division as he was a natural at driving. In the class, he picked up 15 wins and was always a force to be reckoned with, continuing in the class until 1999.

The next few years he toyed around in the 358-Modifieds, but in 2003, he took the shot and decided to run the full schedule at the historic track. His choice paid off, as he was crowned track champion that season.

Even with a successful year, Brian decided to step away from racing himself so he could focus on getting his three girls involved the sport. As racing was what the family did, everyone was on board in getting the girls into Karts. They chose to call Dodge City Speedway home, as it was not far from where they lived.

The girls would put their names in the win column many times, following in their dad’s footsteps, all while collecting track championships. After four years and quite a lot of success though, they too decided to step away.

Still having the urge to be around cars and speed, Brian got back behind the wheel…this time, he tried his hand at drag racing. He purchased a 1970 Chevrolet Nova and did some bracket racing and was able to win his class at Lebanon Valley’s Musclepalooza.

Though it was exciting, drag racing just didn’t provide the “thrill” and “joy” Borst had missed since he stepped away. The overall atmosphere was not what the Borst family was looking for.

As more time would pass, Brian saw many the Fonda Speedway memory page’s on Social Media that Scott Belnap does a great job on. That turned the light switch on and the racing bug was back. His mind was racing, and the fever was back.

Brian talked things over with his wife, Andrea, and she was totally on-board.

“I gave her every opportunity to talk me out of it,” he stated.

Last season, he started his mission to find a car to run. His preference was Bicknell or a Troyer, because of the convenience, but a deal came along where he could trade his drag car for a 2010 Teo. He couldn’t pass it up.

So, now came the realization. After a 15-year hiatus from being behind the wheel of a Dirt car, he was about to get back into the sport that he had continued to dream about. It was now becoming real.

Much to this writer’s surprise when I got to Fonda for the first event of the year, I noticed a familiar # from the past. “No it can’t be,” I said to myself, but sure enough, Brian’s name was on the roof. That made it clear…he was back!

The first night out in the car, he and his team had a great run and were excited on how well things went. On the way home that evening, Brian told his wife that things will not always go this smooth in racing. It was as if, at that very moment, he jinxed himself. The next race he found himself in a wreck and ended up having to put a rear clip on his car.

He gave his wife another chance to talk him out of driving again.

“We are not giving up on you,” she told him. “We are sticking it out.”

They were able to get a rear clip off of Craig Hanson that he had hanging in his garage, and Brian, being a welder, was lucky enough to get the car back together with the help of his crew.

The hard word and dedication paid off, as on June 9th, their fifth race back, Brian put his ride back in victory lane, much to his surprise. Being back in victory lane was a feeling he thought he’d never have again.

“This season, I wanted to finish in the top 10 every week,” he said. “With the win, I think my goals have been met and it’s just great to see for my family here. My girls are older now and can enjoy this with me. This is even a new experience with my wife.”

It’s amazing how quickly Brian tried to compare this time around with his racing before.

“The competition is different then my first go-around,” he said. “Back then, it was more about having a strong motor. You could start in the back and pull off a win. The cars of today are more about the handling aspect because of the crate motor you run in the class. It makes it a lot tougher coming from the back.”

With that as well, Brian realized how much different of a driver he has to be to get back to victory lane.

“It seems like you have to drive the cars a lot harder than in the past,” he said. “You have to drive them like your mad when you get in them.”

Another thing Brian has found himself doing is comparing all aspects of racing back then versus today.

“It would be tough to compare the drivers of each era,” he said. “Things are just different. To be honest, the class has just changed.”

It’s not all on-track performance that Brian has noticed differences in.

“One thing that is different is the fact that drivers don’t stick around for the fans like they used to,” he said. “It was always nice when we parked on the infield to see the fans flock over after the races to see their favorite drivers. That doesn’t happen anymore.”

How long does Brian see himself in the driver’s seat this time around?

“I’m hoping to do this for another 10 years,” he said. “It’s a family affair for us and we all just love it. As long as it’s affordable and my wife enjoys it, I hope I can stay around.”

Will Borst venture out to do other things once the point season ends at Fonda?

“After the points are over, we will be getting some camping in as we are not sure on how much racing we will do after that,” he stated. “However, from experience, we may do some racing. Once you’re hooked, it’s hard to pass up.”

One final question I just had to ask Brian was why he ‘really’ wanted to get back to the driver’s seat after all these years.

“I just love it,” he said. “I’ve always thought about it. I really missed it and have probably lost my mind. Truthfully, as long as my wife is along for the ride, I’m back!”

Plans are already in the works for 2019.

“We are planning to bring back our purple colors next season,” he said. “We ran the black this season because that’s what came with the car.”

One of Brian’s final comments to me was how much he wanted to thank everybody who has helped him to get back to his safe haven. He hopes that he hasn’t driven too many people crazy with all his questions of learning the fast way around the track once again.

Best of luck to the Borst Racing Team for the remainder of the 2018 season and into the future.

Writer’s Note…
I felt I had to write this story. Not to just put it out there, but this just proves that as the years go by, for those who haven driven in the past, you can get back to the seat. Look at Brian. He proved that if you can get all your ducks in a row, you can get back behind the wheel.

To me, this is a great comeback story. It brings back a lot of great memories of racing days gone by when I would see the #69 tooling around the “Track Of Champions.” Simply AWESOME!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS and I’ll see you all at the races!”