Column: Brittany Golden Sets Her Sights On The 2021 Local Racing Season
Column By: JIM CLARKE – BELLEVILLE, ONT – Most people know the excitement of having a new car. The first time you drive it. The inaugural run through the car wash and showing it off to your friends.
At first glance, Brittany Golden’s new car might look a lot like her old one. There is a No. 85 on the door with sponsorship advertising on the hood, trunk-lid and fenders. Her friends like seeing it when it’s a little dirty best of all.
After 4 seasons in the Stinger division at Brighton Speedway – with close to a dozen main event checkered flags and a pair of track championships – the Belleville, Ontario speedster was looking to take the next step in her career. Putting the finishing touches on a Nissan 240 Comp 4/Mini Stock ride they had hoped to debut at the 2020 opener meant a busy off-season for the 23-year-old 3rd generation racer and her crew.
“The Stinger was a fun car to race, but the division only runs 10 times a year and the class is unique to Brighton,” said Brittany Golden. “To get some extra seat time and be able to experience racing at different tracks, the Mini Stock was the way to go. They’re part of all the weekly shows at my home track and practically every speedway on the circuit has Mini Stocks in their regular raceday line-up.”
As excited as she may have been about her new ride, Golden – who works as the manager of Farmer’s Daughter Sub Shoppe in nearby Bayside – admitted to being a little nervous about the transition. Her first laps in the Mini Stock were also the first time she raced a rear-wheel-drive racecar. Getting on the track for just over a handful of events because of the COVID 19 Pandemic led to an accelerated learning curve.
“Like everyone else, I was hoping to run a full season but I’m thankful for the dates we were able to get in. The track promoters and their sponsors did a great job of making the best of a bad situation,” Brittany Golden explained. “I also need to thank my crew of my father Chris Golden, my boyfriend Cody Moon, best friend Nicole Deveau and my mom Christine LaBarge for making sure the car was ready to go every time the green flag waved.”
The Nissan Mini Stock will carry sponsorship from Rapid Rad, Farmers Daughter Sub Shoppe, Peacemaker 420, Rose Scale, Wilson Motors, KD Transmissions, Picture This Signs & Designs, the No. 57 Sandercock Racing Team and B & W Tire. Golden will continue to use No. 85, as her grandfather and father had during their careers.
“The ‘racing family’ has to be the best dynamic about the sport. Some of my greatest friends and best memories have come from being at a racetrack,” Brittany Golden added. “I love to travel and race. Track chasing is very exciting. I’ve been all over Southern Ontario, parts of Quebec, New York State and North Carolina. Dirt Track race fans are certainly one of a kind.”
