(Aug. 4, 2015) The West Wood Estates Bandolero Division has some of the fastest young talent on Canada’s east coast. These drivers are the future of our sport and before long we’ll see many of them move up to higher divisions. Speedway 660’s Wade Wilson recently caught up with Braden Langille who is winning races everywhere he goes. 

A Conversation with Braden Langille

 

Wade: Hey Braden, you are having some kinda year. Back in February, when we were snow-shoeing and Alpine skiing, you were down in Florida winning races. Tell us about that experience?

Braden: It was a great experience. I travelled down south with my Mom Trisha and Dad Craig. Colby Smith came with us to help out too. Cole Butcher and his family went down as well and he raced. I ran at Orlando Speed World, which is a lot like Riverside International Speedway down in Antigonish. It’s got high banks and its wicked fast! The races sure were challenging and the competition was tough, but we got on a roll down there and were able to win all five features. We also got to go to New Smyrna and Volusia and watch some races there. It was a great time and a good learning experience.Braden Langille (#51) has been out front more often than not in 2015. This kid from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia is at the top of his game and wins races like there’s no tomorrow! 

Wade: You picked right up where you left off in Florida when the racing season started here in the Maritimes. You’ve won at Speedway 660, Petty International and your home track Scotia Speedway. You must be pretty happy with the way your season is going.

Braden: Yeah we gained a lot of confidence as a race team when we went to the States. So we’re pretty pleased with how things have gone so far this season, but the competition is pretty tough and we know we’ve got to work hard in the garage and stay focused on the track to be successful.David and Lee Goodine, who sponsor our West Wood Estates Bandolero Division, congratulate Braden for winning the 2015 Bando Blast at Speedway 660. 

Wade: Last year you were a good competitive driver, but this year you are dominating no matter where you race. What’s different this year?

Braden: Preparation, experience and confidence. My Dad and I work hard every night in the garage to make the car better. We also have gotten to know the tracks we race at better and I’m just getting more comfortable in the car, which only comes with experience. I’m also running some laps in my Legend car which is helping a lot too.Braden and his Dad Craig Langille share a passion for racing. They enjoy race day and working on the car through the week in the family garage. BTW, Craig is also a crew member for Dylan Blenkhorn from the Maritime Pro Stock Tour!

Wade: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How old are you, what grade are you going into in the fall, what else do you like to do besides racing, who do you look up to in our sport, who do you like in NASCAR and those sorts of things?

Braden: Well, I’m 14 years old and this fall will go into Grade Nine at Hants East Rural High School. I’m very athletic and love sports including hockey and baseball. I also like to hunt and fish and drive four wheelers. I guess I’m an outdoors type of guy and just love being active. When it comes to drivers, I really look up to John Flemming on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. He’s a real class act, he really takes an interest in helping young drivers like me and is one of the nicest guys I’ve met in our sport. When it comes to NASCAR I really like Kyle Busch. He drives hard and goes for the win every time he hits the track.John Flemming (number 97) is someone Braden Langille really looks up to in our sport. John is always willing to talk to young drivers, giving them advice, positive feed-back and a word of encouragement. 

Wade: Although you are a great young racer, you still aren’t old enough to drive on the highway. So who chauffeurs you around, who makes it possible for you to race, who helps you work on the race car and who are your sponsors?

Braden: I’ve got a lot of family support and without their help, I wouldn’t be able to race. Dad works on the race car and teaches me how to do a lot of mechanical things. He also drives me to all of the tracks. I’ve got awesome Grandparents (Mickey & Lorraine and Wayne & Nancy) who come to as many races as they can and cheer for me. And I can’t forget Mom, she’s very supportive when it comes to my racing and always reminds me to be safe out on the track. My sponsors are Velocity Machine & Welding; Techtronic Machine Works; Alpine Auto Glass and; Atlantic Tiltload. I really appreciate the help they give me.Trisha and Craig Langille sure are proud parents. Their son Braden is having a dream season in his Bandolero car. Braden will go into Grade Nine this fall.

Wade: Do you have any short-term and long-term goals in racing? Some kids your age want to play in the NHL or MLB, do you ever dream of driving in NASCAR someday?

Braden: My short-term goal is to try to win some track championships here in the Maritimes. We run regular at Scotia, Petty and 660. I’m also working hard to try to get to that magic number of 19 wins this season. That would help us earn the INEX National Points and the Canadian INEX Championship. I’m also anxious to drive my Legend car and see how I can do there. My long-term goal is to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports.Sometimes before the races Braden likes to joke around with his Dad in the pits. But once the green flag flies this kid is serious about getting to the checkers first! 

Wade: You guys are really running the roads this summer. Shubenacadie to Geary and Petty and of course the short hop to Scotia, not to mention the big trip to Florida. That’s a pretty big commitment from you and your parents.

Braden: It sure is. Dad does all the driving and he’s the one who has taken on the biggest responsibility. I really appreciate his efforts, so when we get to the tracks I always try to do my best. It’s amazing that I get to drive the race car as fast as I can and have all the fun while my Dad has got to follow the speed limit and drive me back and forth to all the race tracks.Craig and Braden celebrate another trip to the Riverview Ford Victory Lane. The Langille`s work hard to bring a good car to the track every week and that work is paying off in 2015. 

Wade: If you keep going at the pace your on, you could win championships at three Maritime tracks this summer! Do you ever feel any pressure to get out there and win races and championships?

Braden: I really don’t feel any pressure. I listen to some music before the races to get in the zone and then I get in the car and just try to do the best I can.Ashton Tucker (number 32) has provided Braden with some stiff competition this year. The two Bando-Boys are fierce competitors on the track, but good friends too. And that`s what racin is all about.   

Wade: Thanks for doing this Braden and good luck for the rest of the season.

Braden: Thanks a lot Wade. Before we finish up, I want to thank David and Lee Goodine, from West Wood Estates for sponsoring the Bandolero division at Speedway 660. I also want to thank the great fans in the Fredericton area who come to see us every week. I’ve made some really good friends with many of the other Bando drivers at 660 and we always have a lot of fun when we go up your way.