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Raised in Huxley, 2009 Joaquin High grad Chris Golden is on his way to his NASCAR debut in August. Devoting his youth to running, Golden is now on his way to becoming a staple in the sport of running.
Raised by his grandparents in the pine woods of East Texas, Golden said, “We never had a lot, but it was always enough. I’m proud of how I was raised and grateful to my grandparents.
While in high school, Golden worked at a local grocery store and three jobs to pay for his two years at Stephen F. Austin State University and East Texas Baptist University, where he majored. in kinesiology.
“My grandfather and I used to watch NASCAR every Sunday,” Golden said. “On Saturday we would drive to Kilgore and watch the dirt races at Lonestar Speedway. I remember when I was 8, we were sitting in the big stands. My grandfather had no teeth and a big bushy mustache. Ironically, his favorite cartoon character was Yosemite Sam. I looked at him and said, ‘One day I want to do this.’ He looked at me with his big mustache and said, “Well…you better get a good job.”
After college, Golden was introduced to vector marketing where he learned various soft skills and enhanced his already stellar work ethic. With years of interpersonal skills, hard work and over 10,000 social media followers, Golden has fully equipped himself for what lies ahead.
Fast forward to 2023. Golden has spent the last four years in Oklahoma and many other states dedicated to racing. “In 2019 I finally bought my first track car. When I was 8 I said I wanted to do it. When I was 28 I did it,” Golden said .
In Golden’s first track racing season, he placed third in his first race at Longdale Speedway in Oklahoma. He concluded his first season by placing third overall in points, winning Rookie of the Year and the Sportsmanship Award.
Since his first race in 2019, Golden has racked up 31 top 10s and 12 top 5s in 84 races. Add to that a fanbase of around 13,000, according to stats from ChrisGoldenRacing.com.
In 2022, Golden ranked 13th in the nation. After all those years of hard work, track racing and dedication, he finally found himself on the verge of sitting behind the wheel of an ARCA Menards Series car (a NASCAR sanctioned series) after signing with Alex Clubb, owner of Clubb Racing Inc. in Morris, Illinois.
“I was a huge Alex Clubb fan even before I started racing,” Golden said. “He’s a great guy and just by making these connections with him and with tons of different teams that I’ve spoken to, I’ve had other offers. But ultimately I had to go with Alex “, did he declare.
Although not yet confirmed, Golden’s NASCAR debut and feature “Rookie Spotlight” making his first laps as an official NASCAR driver will take place at either Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana or the Historic Milwaukee Mile. in Wisconsin.
“All I can say is that good things come to those who wait,” Golden said. “It’s an exciting time for me and I’m just grateful to everyone who has helped me get here. You just have to work hard, make those connections and eventually hit a light bulb with someone,” did he declare.
Golden sent a huge thank you to Willie Mullins of Mullins Racing in Fredericksburg, Va., for being his greatest guide and mentor throughout his racing career before signing with Clubb Racing, and for being there after signing with Club b.
Although Golden will now drive for Clubb Racing, he says he will still race his car on dirt tracks on weekends. “I own my off-road car. As for the ARCA Menards series, I drive for Clubb Racing,” said Golden.
Defining the difference, Golden said: “Clubb Racing owns the ARCA cars and equipment, employs the crew and hauls the cars. I show up at the track and at the race.
“Sponsor dollars go to the driver,” Golden continued. “The driver gives the sponsor’s dollars to the team. The drivers get the earnings. For example, since I own my off-road car, all of the sponsor’s profits go to me. And I also keep the earnings because I’m also the pilot.
Golden has seven races this year as a rookie in the ARCA Menard Series. To keep up with Golden and his growing NASCAR career, follow him on social media under Chris Golden Racing, or visit his website for upcoming race schedules, meet and greets and more at ChrisGoldenRacing.com. Fans can also listen to Golden’s dirt races on RacinDirt.com and RaceOnTexas.com. The ARCA Menards series airs on Fox Sports 1.
Golden is also inviting Shelby County subscribers to contact his team to become an official sponsor. “I want people from my home country,” Golden said. “Anyone from Shelby County who is interested, please contact us. I want to get local businesses back home, national exposure and let the world know that our little corner of Texas exists,” he said.
“I especially want all these people from my childhood home to be proud of me,” Golden said. “Even though I now reside in Oklahoma. Shelby County is my home. It has always been in my house and will always be in my house and it’s time for the world to come to love this little map stitch, just like me.
For more sponsor information, contact the team at ChrisGoldenRacing.com or on Facebook, Chris Golden Racing.
