Travis Braden

Last updated
Travis Braden
TravisBraden2019MadisonARCA.jpg
Braden in 2019
BornTravis Donald Braden
(1994-03-25) March 25, 1994 (age 30)
Wheeling, West Virginia
Achievements2013, 2014 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion
2019 Snowball Derby Winner
2016 Winchester 400 Winner
ARCA Menards Series career
50 races run over 5 years
Best finish4th (2019)
First race 2015 Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 (IRP)
Last race 2019 Kansas ARCA 150 (Kansas)
First win 2015 Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 (IRP)
WinsTop tens Poles
1340
Statistics current as of August 8, 2022.

Travis Donald Braden (born March 25, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He most recently competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 27 Ford for RFMS Racing. He currently serves as a mechanic for Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Alex Bowman. [1] He has also raced super late models, winning the Winchester 400 in 2016 and the Snowball Derby in 2019.

Contents

Racing career

Braden in victory lane at Berlin Raceway in 2014 Travis Braden in victory lane and Berlin Raceway.jpeg
Braden in victory lane at Berlin Raceway in 2014
Braden in the ARCA Midwest Tour race at Wisconsin International Raceway in 2017 Travis BradenARCAMidwestTourDixieland250.jpg
Braden in the ARCA Midwest Tour race at Wisconsin International Raceway in 2017
Braden's 2018 ARCA car at Madison 27 Travis Braden car 2018 ARCA Madison.jpg
Braden's 2018 ARCA car at Madison
Braden's No. 01 late model on the campus of West Virginia University Travis Braden race car on WVU campus.jpg
Braden's No. 01 late model on the campus of West Virginia University

Braden began racing when he was eight years old, competing in mini-wedges, quarter-midgets and Legends car racing, winning a Young Lions national points championship. [2] He later won the Whelen All-American Series state championship in Ohio. [2]

He raced super late models in 2013 and 2014, winning the ARCA/CRA Super Series championship both of those years. [3]

Braden made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2015, and won his first start in the series, passing William Byron near the end of the race at Lucas Oil Raceway. [4]

In 2016, Braden went super late model racing, winning the Winchester 400 in Winchester, Indiana. [5]

After running part-time for RFMS Racing in the 2017 ARCA Racing Series, the team and Braden agreed to a full-time slate in 2018. [6] Braden returned to RFMS for a second full season in 2019, [7] and early in the year, led the championship point standings, [8] which he would finish fourth in at the end of the season. [9]

In 2019, Braden entered the Snowball Derby for the first time. He qualified 30th, the last car in on time trials, after qualifying with a rebuilt car after being wrecked by another competitor in practice. [10] He was declared the winner of the race after original winner Stephen Nasse's car failed post-race technical inspection. [11]

In early 2020, Braden revealed that he would not contest another season in the ARCA Menards Series, instead using the year to move to Charlotte, North Carolina and focus on large super late model races and races in NASCAR's top three divisions. [9]

Personal life

Braden is a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, [9] and attended West Virginia University where he double-majored in aerospace and mechanical engineering. [12] Braden is a 2012 graduate of Wheeling Park High School.

Motorsports career results

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920ARSCPtsRef
2015 Platinum Motorsports01 Chevy DAY MOB NSH SLM TAL TOL NJE POC MCH CHI WIN IOW IRP
1
POC BLN ISF DSF SLM KEN
2
KAN
6
36th655 [13]
2016 DAY NSH SLM TAL TOL NJE POC MCH
4
MAD WIN IOW IRP POC BLN ISF DSF SLM CHI
7
KEN KAN 61st405 [14]
2017 Ford DAY
22
NSH SLM TAL TOL ELK POC MCH MAD IOW IRP POC 31st845 [15]
RFMS Racing27 WIN
4
ISF ROA DSF SLM CHI
11
KEN
9
KAN
17
2018 DAY
22
NSH
15
SLM
14
TAL
9
TOL
8
CLT
11
POC
4
MCH
12
MAD
11
GTW
9
CHI
7
IOW
9
ELK
7
POC
9
ISF
4
BLN
3
DSF
15
SLM
5
IRP
12
KAN
20
5th4445 [16]
2019 DAY
8
FIF
10
SLM
12
TAL
7
NSH
8
TOL
13
CLT
9
POC
10
MCH
6
MAD
4
GTW
7
CHI
5
ELK
12
IOW
7
POC
9
ISF
11
DSF
7
SLM
9
IRP
7
KAN
5
4th4780 [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Mader III</span> American racing driver

David George Mader III is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 63 Chevrolet SS for Spraker Racing Enterprises. He is a former competitor in all three of NASCAR's national touring series and is also the winner of the 1978 Snowball Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Kenseth</span> American stock car racing driver

Ross Kenseth is an American stock car racing driver who currently competes part-time in the Blizzard Series. He is the son of 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth. He has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Midwest Tour, CRA Super Series and ARCA Racing Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Majeski</span> American racing driver (born 1994)

Tyler Brad Majeski is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 98 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing, as well as in late model racing. He has also competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards Series, and ARCA Menards Series West in the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raphaël Lessard</span> Canadian racing driver (born 2001)

Raphaël Lessard is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Pinty's Series for Ed Hakonson Racing. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing. He has also driven for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series, and GMS Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and DGR-Crosley in the Truck Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Eckes</span> American racing driver (born 2000)

Christian Donald Eckes is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 19 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Eckes is the 2019 ARCA Menards Series champion, won the Snowball Derby in 2016, and was formerly a development driver for JR Motorsports and later Toyota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zane Smith (racing driver)</span> American racing driver (born 1999)

Zane Michael Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in an alliance with Trackhouse Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. He won the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship driving for Front Row Motorsports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittney Zamora</span> American racing driver

Brittney Zamora is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing. She previously drove for Bill McAnally Racing full-time in the ARCA Menards Series West and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 ARCA Menards Series</span> 68th season of the ARCA Racing Series

The 2020 ARCA Menards Series season was the 68th season of the ARCA Menards Series. It began on February 8 with the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on October 16 with the Speediatrics 150 at Kansas Speedway. 2020 was the first season that the series was sanctioned by NASCAR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 ARCA Menards Series East</span> 34th season of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

The 2020 ARCA Menards Series East was the 34th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR. It began on February 10 at New Smyrna Speedway with the Skip's Western Outfitters 175, and concluded on October 11 at Five Flags Speedway with the Pensacola 200. 2020 marked the first season the series was known as the ARCA Menards Series East, after it was known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for the previous ten years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Caudell</span> American racing driver

Eric Caudell is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 7 Ford/Toyota for his team, CCM Racing. He has competed in ARCA since 2015, including running full-time for one season in 2017, where he finished tenth in points. He also made one Truck Series start in 2014 at Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Heim</span> American racing driver

Corey David Heim is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE for Legacy Motor Club as their reserve driver for Erik Jones, as well as the No. 50 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI. He also serves as a reserve driver for 23XI Racing in the Cup Series. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series, East Series, and West Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubba Pollard</span> American racing driver

Andrew "Bubba" Pollard is an American stock car racing driver. He currently competes in super late model racing, driving the No. 26 Ford for his own team and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. He is noted as one of the most successful active super late model drivers, winning the All American 400, Rattler 250, World Crown 300 and the 2014 Southern Super Series championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Griffith</span> American racing driver

Derek P. Griffith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Griffith has also competed in the ARCA Menards Series and super late model racing, winning the 2018 Pro All Stars Series national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Nasse</span> American stock car racing driver

Stephen Nasse is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 09 Ford for Jett Motorsports. He also competes in various super late model events. He is very infamously nicknamed Classy Nasse due to his short tempered nature and on track antics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bush's Beans 200</span> ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway

The Bush's Beans 200 is an annual 200-lap 106.6-mile (171.6 km) ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East combination race held at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is held as part of the fall NASCAR weekend at the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 ARCA Menards Series</span> 69th season of the ARCA Menards Series

The 2021 ARCA Menards Series season was the 69th season of the ARCA Menards Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the Lucas Oil 200 on February 13 and ended with the Reese's 150 at Kansas Speedway on October 23. Ty Gibbs was crowned the series champion, having won ten times and finished in the top four in 19 of 20 races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 ARCA Menards Series East</span> 35th season of the ARCA Menards Series East

The 2021 ARCA Menards Series East was the 35th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on February 8 at New Smyrna Speedway with the Jeep Beach 175 and ended on September 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Bush's Beans 200. Sammy Smith and Joe Gibbs Racing won the series championship. JGR's No. 18 car, driven by Smith and Ty Gibbs, won all but one race during the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 ARCA Menards Series West</span> 68th season of the ARCA Menards Series West

The 2021 ARCA Menards Series West was the sixty-eighth season of the ARCA Menards Series West, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began at Phoenix Raceway with the General Tire 150 and ended with another race at Phoenix Raceway, the Arizona Lottery 100, on November 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music City 150</span> ARCA race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

The Music City 150 is a 89.400-mile (143.875 km) annual ARCA Menards Series East race held at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. The event has been part of the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East schedules and has come and gone from both throughout its history. It was originally held in 1992 in what was then known as the ARCA SuperCar Series, brought back in 2007 and 2008 as an East Series race, brought back in 2015 as an ARCA Racing Series race, and then moved back to the East Series after NASCAR's acquisition of ARCA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gio Ruggiero</span> American racing driver

Giovanni Ruggiero is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. He is a member of Toyota Racing Development.

References

  1. "Seven NASCAR Roots drivers score 2024 'Road to Daytona' invites from ARCA Menards Series". ARCARacing.com. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Travis Braden-ARCA Racing". ARCARacing.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  3. "Two-Time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Enters This Sunday's "Father's Day 100" at The Milwaukee Mile". ARCA Midwest Tour . Retrieved January 5, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. Donnelly, Doug. "First Start – First Win in ARCA For Travis Braden". Speed51. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  5. "Travis Braden scores Winchester 400 win in wild finish". WDUN. October 11, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  6. "Braden & RFMS Unite For Full ARCA Schedule". Race Chaser Online. December 14, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  7. "Braden Back With RFMS For Full ARCA Season". Speed Sport. February 8, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  8. Krall, Charles (April 24, 2019). "ARCA Menards Series Championship Leader Travis Braden Heads to Talladega Looking for First Win of 2019". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 Flatley, Jake (January 5, 2020). "Wheeling native Travis Braden racing towards NASCAR dreams in 2020". WV MetroNews. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  10. Sullivan, Connor (December 7, 2019). "Braden Pulls A Miracle on Snowball Derby Qualifying Day". Speed51. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  11. Bonkowski, Jerry (December 9, 2019). "Stephen Nasse DQ'd, Travis Braden declared Snowball Derby winner". NASCAR on NBC . NBC Sports . Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  12. Krall, Charles (May 17, 2019). "Consistency Key to ARCA Championship Leader Travis Braden's 2019 Success". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  13. "Travis Braden – 2015 ARCA Racing Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  14. "Travis Braden – 2016 ARCA Racing Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  15. "Travis Braden – 2017 ARCA Racing Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  16. "Travis Braden – 2018 ARCA Racing Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  17. "Travis Braden – 2019 ARCA Menards Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2020.