The land where Toledo Speedway sits was nothing more than tomato plants 57 years ago.
In 2019, another season of racing will take place at the venerable track, highlighted by the ARCA Menards Series race at 2 p.m. May 18. This year’s edition has a new name and sponsor: the Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200, ARCA announced Tuesday at Hollywood Casino Toledo.
“We’re excited to move our sponsorship to Toledo and the northwest Ohio area,” Sioux Chief president Joe Ismert said in a statement. “Northwest Ohio, in fact, the entire state of Ohio, is an emerging market for our products, and the ability to sponsor the ARCA race there is a fantastic opportunity.
“We enjoy our relationship with ARCA and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the ARCA Menards Series."
Sioux Chief Manufacturing is a family-owned corporation based in suburban Kansas City, Mo., that designs and manufactures rough plumbing products, parts, and accessories for residential, commercial, industrial, and government applications.
The company directly asked about the opportunity to promote its products in northwest Ohio, essentially trading places with Menards, which sponsored the Toledo Speedway race for a decade. Menards will host the Elko Speedway race in Minnesota, previously sponsored by Sioux Chief.
The Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 will mark the 78th ARCA event at Toledo Speedway. Current NASCAR drivers Michael McDowell, Justin Allgaier, Chris Buescher, Ty Dillon, and Harrison Burton, and former NASCAR veteran Ken Schraeder all have won ARCA events in Toledo.
Travis Braden would like to add his name to that list.
“As a driver from the outside looking in, I love the place. As a driver on race day, sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it,” said Braden, who finished eighth at Toledo in 2018. “It’s so challenging, and a lot of times the track will change. Somebody that runs great at the beginning of the race might fall off at the end. During a pit stop cycle, things might change. It’s very unique. Drivers do like that, I like that. But, man, it’s challenging and puts on some great races.”
In 32 career ARCA races, Braden, who won his very first start, has one trip to victory lane, eight top fives, and 20 top 10s. He finished in the top 10 in both 2019 races, hoping to carry that momentum into the next race, April 14 in Salem, Ind.
Braden is currently second, 65 points behind leader Christian Eckes, in the season-long points race. ESPN named Braden one of the top 10 drivers to watch in racing in 2019.
“Honestly, I'm very pleased we’ve had two top 10s,” Braden said. “Last year at Daytona, we were running for a top five, probably a win had we not wrecked, and we get a 22nd-place finish. Then we go to race two and finish 15th or worse. That put us behind the whole year, it felt like. My goal this year was to get two top 10s. However we needed to do it, that’s what we needed. I think we’re sitting in a great spot.”
With dual degrees in aerospace and mechanical engineering from West Virginia University, Braden took a circuitous route to a career of left-hand turns. His education is a backup plan and an asset in his racing career — so much so that his crew sometimes gets annoyed by his persistence and expertise.
“I don't think I'm smarter or better than anyone. Hell, most of the time I think I know too much for my own good because when I drive the car I'm thinking about all of these different things,” Braden said. “There are times when I overthink it. I got into racing on the side of liking the cars just as much as I liked driving. It just so happens that I’m a driver, too.”
First Published March 19, 2019, 10:55 p.m.
