SPOKANE, WA :: Legends never die. At Martinsville, the legend of Rodney Cook will live on with Spokane, Washington driver Braeden Havens racing the famous no. 14 car in the Martinsville DuPont Credit Union (MDCU) 300.
The 21-year-old, known as “Killer B”, has already made a name for himself on the west coast where he’s raced in the Montana 200, the Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway and made starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West where he scored a pole earlier this year at State Line Speedway in Idaho. Now, he’s preparing for the MDCU 300 where he will be racing for Travis Sharpe and Racing Dynamiks.
“Martinsville’s going to be one of the biggest races I’ve ever been to,” Havens said. “I know the names that will be there, I know there will be NASCAR drivers and those guys but I think I’ve got a shot though.”
Havens says he’s raced in a variety of cars, including Perimeter Late Models, Straight-Rails and Stock Clip cars. He feels confident that he’ll be strong at Martinsville racing for Sharpe.
“WIth Travis Sharpe, I know he’s good at getting the car underneath the driver and with the car under me, I feel I can wheel it in there.”
Havens will have big shoes to fill. The no. 14 car he will be piloting was made legend in this region by the late Rodney Cook who lost his battle with cancer back in December. Cook wasn’t just a racing hero, he’s a legend and he’s a legend Havens knows of. Havens is ready for the challenge.
“In the Northwest, Rodney Cook, we’ve heard of him over here. To drive a car that he drove and had success with and a car that a legend drove is an honor. I’m coming to, hopefully, to hold up the name. I hope I get in his car and do great things with it. I’ve heard of him. He’s a legend. I’m trying to fill big shoes in who drove that car before and I hope I do.”
Havens’ racing résumé includes four go-kart championships, the 2011 Inland Northwest Super Stock Association Championship and, in 2014 alone, three top-five finishes in Late Model races on the west coast. He’s also scored two top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes in 13 career NASCAR K&N Pro Series starts. With that record, Sharpe has confidence in “Killer B”.
“He’s a really big deal out here,” Sharpe said. “It’s really cool to be able to bring guys from here back home to race for the second straight season. This kid is really, really good, and, to be able to help Rodney’s family out by doing this and crew chief the 14 again makes it even more special. Racing Dynamiks put this together and is preparing the car. Havens is a west coast star.”
Racing Dynamiks is based in Montana but continues to field cars in Virginia. Sharpe grew up in Virginia where he learned racing and watched races at Franklin County Speedway as a kid. Now, he’s coming home again in October for Late Model Stock Car racing’s biggest race.
The MDCU 300 will be held on Sunday, October 5th at Martinsville Speedway while qualifying which will set the front row and the field for the qualifying heat races will be held on Saturday, October 4th.
