Page 16 - 2019 April-May IWMA Magazine

Jaden Freeman Credits Dad for Her Racing Bug
Jaden Freeman is a 16-year old driver from Brighton, ON, Canada and has only raced one full season. In Sep- tember of 2017 her first race was the junior’s race and Jaden said she was ab- solutely terrible! She finished dead last, but she had a blast and knew it was all a learning curve. “It was the first time I had ever really driven a car, other than around my backyard. My first race was when I was 14 and I raced last season at age 15. I raced my first ladies race at the end of the 2018 season and it was amazing. At first, I didn’t want to race with the women but I’m so glad I did! It felt so cool to be a part of a group of women that all love the same sport!”
Jaden said her first race was the most memorable. She was so nervous but it was the most fun she has ever had. She was always used to helping her dad and watching him race, but this time it was all about her. It was exciting to final- ly know how that felt. Her team is all on their own - no marketeing partners, and they do everything themselves.
Jaden’s dad, Mike Freeman in- spired her to start racing.
“He has been racing on and off since he was 15 years old. He has raced
a number of different cars and classes over the years. In the 80’s he raced late models, street stock champion 1983, su- per stocks. The past 4 years my dad has been racing #51 thunder stock that he and our crew built themselves in the ga- rage at our house. My dad has also done many other races at the “Eve of destruc- tion” that our home track puts on every year, like van races, trailer races, he has even raced a bus...and won!! My dad is the reason that I got into racing and it is
such an amazing sport to grow up in, the people are amazing and everyone one is right there to jump in and help wherever is needed. It’s like a family at the track. Everyone is so competitive but will always lend a hand or spare parts and tools. It amazing to have a group of people that want to race just as much as you do.”
Jaden has an amazing crew. Her dad, Dennis Walker, Sam Hum,Shawn Sousa and her papa, who is always at the track helping. Her nana is a huge supporter as well, helping to put gas in her car every week and she makes the best lunches and “post race” peanut butter cookies!
Because Jaden was a rookie, she always started scratch. She made a deal with her dad that when she can keep passing the pack, the she can start up front. On August 15, 2018, she started 15th (dead last) and worked her way up to 9th!
She races at Brighton Speedway in Brighton Ontario Canada. She races a 2002 Chevy Impala SS, and she raced in the Jr. Stinger class her rookie sea- son.
There are a few other women that race at her track, they are all old- er than Jaden, but she does look up to them. “I think the women need to stick together and work together in this male dominated sport.”
Jaden would like to keep im- proving her driving skills and improve her finishes each week. Eventually she wants to move up to the bigger classes and travel to different tracks and inspire younger girls that they can race too.
Jaden’s favorite part of racing is not only driving but being a part of the “race family” and the great atmosphere at the track.
Jaden feels that being a success- ful driver means that you keep working to improve yourself and your driving. “Some races are really good and some are really bad but you always learn
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