Today in Wheeling History: March 25—Wheeling native Travis Braden, who would become a professional stock car racing driver, is born (1994).
Travis Donald Braden, one of Wheeling's most accomplished motorsports figures, was born on March 25, 1994, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in the city and graduated from Wheeling Park High School in 2012 before enrolling at West Virginia University, where he earned a dual degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Braden's racing career began at age eight in mini-wedges. He quickly progressed through quarter-midgets and Legends cars, winning a Young Lions national points championship and multiple track and regional titles. At 17, he moved to full-size stock cars in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, setting qualifying records at Columbus and Xenia tracks in Ohio and winning the state championship. He earned back-to-back ARCA/CRA Super Series championships in 2013 and 2014.
In July 2015, Braden made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, winning his first start in a family-owned car — passing future NASCAR Cup driver William Byron near the finish. He won the Winchester 400 in Winchester, Indiana, in 2016 and claimed the 2019 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, after the original winner was disqualified in post-race inspection. Braden ran two full ARCA seasons with RFMS Racing in 2018 and 2019, finishing fifth and fourth in the final standings, respectively.
After his ARCA career concluded, Braden joined Hendrick Motorsports as a mechanic, working on the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by Alex Bowman. In 2021, he partnered with NASCAR team owner BJ McLeod to establish a short-track development program. Braden also competed in the 2024 CARS Pro Late Model Tour season.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3zuydbkx), WVU ProjectMe (https://tinyurl.com/pu8m6a2b), West Virginia Executive Magazine (https://tinyurl.com/mv2dtpxm), NBC Sports (https://tinyurl.com/4vkbcyhd) (https://tinyurl.com/bdf95hpd), ARCA Menards (https://tinyurl.com/mrxz8n67) (https://tinyurl.com/4c9bze7x), Third Turn (https://tinyurl.com/4472ruee), Racing Reference (https://tinyurl.com/43y7w8wb)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
Travis Donald Braden, one of Wheeling's most accomplished motorsports figures, was born on March 25, 1994, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in the city and graduated from Wheeling Park High School in 2012 before enrolling at West Virginia University, where he earned a dual degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Braden's racing career began at age eight in mini-wedges. He quickly progressed through quarter-midgets and Legends cars, winning a Young Lions national points championship and multiple track and regional titles. At 17, he moved to full-size stock cars in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, setting qualifying records at Columbus and Xenia tracks in Ohio and winning the state championship. He earned back-to-back ARCA/CRA Super Series championships in 2013 and 2014.
In July 2015, Braden made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, winning his first start in a family-owned car — passing future NASCAR Cup driver William Byron near the finish. He won the Winchester 400 in Winchester, Indiana, in 2016 and claimed the 2019 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, after the original winner was disqualified in post-race inspection. Braden ran two full ARCA seasons with RFMS Racing in 2018 and 2019, finishing fifth and fourth in the final standings, respectively.
After his ARCA career concluded, Braden joined Hendrick Motorsports as a mechanic, working on the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by Alex Bowman. In 2021, he partnered with NASCAR team owner BJ McLeod to establish a short-track development program. Braden also competed in the 2024 CARS Pro Late Model Tour season.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3zuydbkx), WVU ProjectMe (https://tinyurl.com/pu8m6a2b), West Virginia Executive Magazine (https://tinyurl.com/mv2dtpxm), NBC Sports (https://tinyurl.com/4vkbcyhd) (https://tinyurl.com/bdf95hpd), ARCA Menards (https://tinyurl.com/mrxz8n67) (https://tinyurl.com/4c9bze7x), Third Turn (https://tinyurl.com/4472ruee), Racing Reference (https://tinyurl.com/43y7w8wb)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
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