“In 2019, I finally bought my first dirt track car. When I was 8, I said I wanted to do it. When I turned 28, I did..."
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Chris Golden From Joaquin to NASCAR
Raised in Huxley, Joaquin High graduate class of 2009 Chris Golden is on his way to his NASCAR debut in August. Dedicating his early life to racing, Golden is now poised to be a staple in the racing sport.
Raised by his grandparents in the piney woods of east Texas, Golden said, “We never had much, but it was always enough. I’m proud for the way I was brought up and thankful for my grandparents.”
Through high school, Golden worked at a local grocery store plus three jobs to pay his way through two years of Stephen F. Austin State University and East Texas Baptist University where he majored in kinesiology.
“Me and my grandpa would watch NASCAR every Sunday,” said Golden. “On Saturdays, we’d drive up to Kilgore and watch the dirt races at Lonestar Speedway. I remember when I was 8 years old, we were sitting in the grand stands. My grandpa had no teeth and a big, bushy mustache. Ironically, his favorite cartoon character was Yosemite Sam. I looked over at him and said, ‘One day, I want to do that.’ He looked at me with his big mustache and said, ‘Well… you better get a good job.’”
After college, Golden discovered Vector Marketing where he learned a variety of people skills and improved his already stellar work ethic. With years of people skills, hard work and more than 10,000 followers on social media, Golden has fully equipped himself for what lies ahead.
Fast forward to 2023. Golden spent the last four years in Oklahoma and many other states, dedicated to racing. “In 2019, I finally bought my first dirt track car. When I was 8, I said I wanted to do it. When I turned 28, I did,” said Golden.
In Golden’s first season of dirt track racing, he placed third in his first race at Longdale Speedway in Oklahoma. He wrapped up his first season 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 approximately 13,000 people, according to statistics from ChrisGoldenRacing.com.
In 2022, Golden placed 13th in the nation. After all the years of hard work, dirt track races and dedication, he has finally found himself about to sit behind the wheel of an ARCA Menards Series car (a sanctioned series of NASCAR) after signing with Alex Clubb, owner of Clubb Racing Inc. in Morris, Illinois.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Alex Clubb before I even started racing,” said Golden. “He’s an awesome dude and just making these connections with him and tons of different teams I've talked to, I had other offers. But when it came down to it, I had to go with Alex,” he said.
While not yet confirmed, Golden’s NASCAR debut and “Rookie Spotlight” feature taking his first laps as an official NASCAR driver will happen at either Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana or the Historic Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin.
“All I can say is, good things come to those who wait,” said Golden. “It’s an exciting moment for me and I’m just thankful for everyone who helped get me here. You just have to work hard, make those connections, and eventually hit a light bulb with someone,” he said.
Golden extended a huge thank you to Willie Mullins at Mullins Racing in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for being his biggest guidance and mentor through his racing career before he signed with Clubb Racing, and for being there after he signed with Clubb.
Though Golden will be driving for Clubb Racing now, he says he will still be racing his car at dirt tracks on the weekends. “I own my dirt car. As far as ARCA Menards Series, I’m driving for Clubb Racing,” said Golden.
Defining the difference, Golden said, “Clubb Racing owns the ARCA cars and the equipment, employs the crew, and hauls the cars. I show up to the track and race.”
“The sponsor dollars come to the driver,” Golden continued. “The driver gives the sponsor dollars to the team. Drivers get the winnings. For example, since I own my dirt car, all the sponsor proceeds go to me. And I also keep the winnings because I am also the driver.”
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 tune into Golden’s dirt races on RacinDirt.com and RaceOnTexas.com. ARCA Menards Series are aired on Fox Sports 1.
Golden also extends his invitation for Shelby County followers to contact his team about becoming an official sponsor. “I want local people from my home state,” said Golden. “Anyone from Shelby County who’s interested, please contact us. I want to get some local companies from my home, some national exposure and let the whole world know our little corner of Texas exists,” he said.
“Mostly, I want all those people from my childhood home to be proud of me,” said Golden. “Even though I now reside in Oklahoma. Shelby county is my home. It has always been home and always will be home and it’s time the world comes to love this little map dot just like I do.”
For sponsor information, contact the team at ChrisGoldenRacing.com or on Facebook, Chris Golden Racing.
