Fadden Racing Joins Drive For Diversity Program

Jonathan Smith To Pilot Legendary #16 In CWSE

            North Haverhill, N.H. - Fadden Racing announced a partnership today with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program, an initiative that was instituted in 2004 to attract minorities and women to the sport. Under the contract, car owner Mike Olsen will field the legendary No. 16 Chevy’s for Jonathan Smith of Beacon Falls, Conn. in a full NASCAR Camping World Series East schedule. Smith was one of 12 drivers chosen for the sixth season of the program.

            Former DEI President of Global Operations, Max Siegel, is the newly named director of the Drive for Diversity program, and will oversee the initiative through his new sports and entertainment marketing company, 909 Group.

            “After my initial interest in the program, I became intrigued with the fact that Max Siegel took it over,” said Olsen. “Through his involvement at DEI, he knows what it takes to run this series. At DEI, they fielded three cars last season. He has a knowledge and understanding of it from a car-owners perspective and that was very reassuring. I’m excited to be working with him. More importantly, I’m excited to be working with Jonathan Smith, who I’ve gotten to know quite well over the last couple of years. He’s had two years in the Camping World Series so he knows the tracks and the cars. I’m confident that we, at Fadden Racing, will put the equipment and resources under him that will allow him to succeed.”

            Harry Norcross, who took Olsen to two NASCAR Camping World Series East Championships, will lead Smith’s effort as crew chief.

            Smith got his start in racing at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2006 driving a Late Model. His runner-up finish in the Rookie-of-the-Year battle caught the attention of Motion Racing’s owner Barney McRae, a veteran driver himself in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. In his first year on the series and competing against drivers such as Joey Logano, Sean Caisse, and Mike Olsen, Smith was able to pull off a 16th place finish in the championship point standings. Smith’s 2008 season was plagued with mechanical issues and he concluded the season 19th in his sophomore year.

            “I’m really excited to be involved with Mike Olsen and Fadden Racing,” Smith said. “I’ve gone to Mike a lot over the last two years for advice, and he was always a tremendous asset and willing to help me out. When the Drive for Diversity program came to me and told me they were looking for a new team, he immediately came to mind.  I was really happy that they listened to my suggestion and approached him. I’m even happier that he decided to do it.”

            Smith, who will be competing for his third season in the series, together with Fadden Racing are actively seeking sponsorship. Interested parties may contact Fadden Racing at molsen@together.net.

ABOUT FADDEN RACING

            Fadden Racing began as a small operation in 1961 to support the career of Stanley “Stub” Fadden, known affectionately as “Pop” around the small town of North Haverhill, New Hampshire.

In 1987, Stub began competing in the NASCAR North Series (now titled the Camping World Series East) and competed there on a full-time basis for the next 11 years with Frank Stoddard as crew chief. Stub’s career was highlighted by seven top-10 year-end finishes at a time when nearly 100 competitors were vying for starting positions every week. In 1989, Fadden Racing opened their doors to a second team – that of his grandson Mike Olsen, who went on to win two NASCAR Camping World Series East championships. Olsen now manages Fadden Racing as they mentor and prepare young drivers for a career in racing.

Last Updated on 02/08/09
By George Campbell or Greg Fish
Email: neracing@neracing.com