Fadden Racing History
Generations of Racing Heritage
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 those humble beginnings, Stub, together with his son, Alvin, built one of the most successful race teams in New England.
After working as a welder for Leland Ingerson in the late 1950’s, Stub decided to get behind the wheel himself. In 1961, a career that would span more than five decades got its illustrious beginnings in a small garage beside the house.
Stub was astute in the cockpit of a racecar, and his success was evident with the trophies that began mounting high along the spaces of the garage. He was a two-time winner of the prestigious “Milk Bowl” at Barre, Vermont’s Thunder Road, where he also won the 1978 Track Championship. He was the winner of the inaugural Molson Bash and the 1980 track champion at Catamount Stadium in Milton, Vermont. That same year, Stub won the Mt. Laurient, Quebec track championship.
In 1987, however, Stub got a chance to take his career to the next level when NASCAR organized the NASCAR North Series. Stub 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; four career wins at such short track notables as Lee USA Speedway, Monadnock Speedway, and Jennerstown Speedway; and the distinction of being the only active grandfather/grandson team in NASCAR history.
Fadden’s place in history doesn’t end there. He was also the only driver to receive the NASCAR Sportsman Award in three different decades – 1968, 1981, and 1990. NASCAR awarded him the Dedication Award – an honor that has not been bestowed upon another NASCAR East Series participant since Stub’s retirement. He’s also been recognized by Vermont sports writers with the Don MacTavish Award, and has been inducted in the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame.
Despite all his success, Stub is most proud of the Fadden Racing protégés who have achieved after him.
In 1989, Fadden Racing opened their doors to a second team – that of his grandson Mike Olsen, who drove for three full seasons before financial restraints forced him to cut back his schedule. In 1995, Olsen secured sponsorship from Car-Freshner Corporation, and enabled him to establish himself as a full-time competitor once again. Olsen left his full-time job as parts manager at the family-owned NAPA Auto Parts store, and fully committed himself to racing and winning.
Both Stub and Olsen competed together in the late 1990’s, both enjoying success in their craft. At the conclusion of the 1997 season, however, Stub decided it was time to scale back and enjoy his family’s successes.
Olsen’s biggest accomplishments are the 2006 and 2001 NASCAR Camping World Series East Championships. He is only the sixth driver in the 22-year history of the series to win two series’ crowns. Among Olsen’s accomplishments were six victories, 63 top-five, and 135 top-10 finishes. His 12 Busch Pole Awards puts him sixth on the all-time pole winners list just behind such notables as Ricky Craven and Martin Truex, Jr. Olsen led the series for most consecutive starts at 202 as they closed the 2007 season. He was one of only a handful of drivers to make the million dollar club in career earnings, and earned the 2001 Most Popular Driver distinction.
In 2007, Olsen announced that he would take a new direction with his career. He wanted to mentor a driver around the changing facet of the NASCAR Camping World Series East, which had become primarily a development driver arena. While competing in a full-time schedule himself, Olsen took on the role of car owner at Fadden Racing to Maxime Dumarey, a young 18-year-old driver from Belgium.
In 2008, Olsen gave up the driver’s seat to concentrate on his mentoring role with Dumarey. In addition to the NASCAR Camping World Series East, Fadden Racing competed in select ARCA events and NASCAR Camping World Series West races.
Fadden Racing also remains active in local, grassroots racing as other members of the Fadden family follow in their grandfather’s footsteps.
The small shop that once housed a single race team is also home to Todd Aldrich, late model driver at White Mountain Motorsports Park. He is the younger brother of Mike Olsen and the grandson of Stub Fadden. Todd made one Camping World Series start in 2006 at Adirondack Speedway in New York. Starting 19th in the field, Aldrich was involved in a massive accident late in the race and finished a disappointing 27th.
Travis Fadden begins a third generation tradition of Fadden racers. He is the son of Alvin and grandchild of Stub. In 2006, after graduating from high school and having served on Olsen’s team for years, Travis began competing behind the wheel of a Street Stock car at White Mountain Motorsports Park. He receives guidance from his grandfather, who continues to make it to the track at 75 years of age.
