N. Haverhill, NH — NASCAR Busch East Series, Grand National Division two-time champion Mike Olsen vividly remembers the day his sponsorship with “Little Trees” became official. Then just 27 years old, Olsen was excited that he could go racing with a solid supporter behind him. Fadden Racing, his grandfather’s race team, announced the deal at a press conference at New Hampshire International Speedway in September of 1995. Neither Car-Freshner Corporation nor Olsen realized the impact they would have on the series at that time.
On August 18th at Lime Rock Park, Olsen will celebrate his 200th regular season start behind the wheel of the very familiar #61 Chevrolet’s. The start not only extends Olsen’s record of having the most consecutive starts in the NASCAR Busch East Series, but it also marks the longest running non-family sponsorship in the history of the series – a series only 362 races old.
“My grandfather’s team was making the announcement, and no one had a clue that we were going to announce this sponsorship deal. In fact, a lot of the media believed my grandfather was going to announce his retirement,” recalled Olsen. “I was just so excited. That first contract was a four or five year deal so for the first time in my racing career I could concentrate on the business of racing rather than the financing of it.”
To date, Olsen had made 278 starts total on the NASCAR Busch East Series. For the first six years of his career, the North Haverhill, NH-driver financed his own way – a prospect he could not even imagine today.
“Back then it was feasible – to run a team out of my own pocket. We even got a few top-five’s doing it that way,” he said. “There’s no way that today I could have been competitive without the support of Car-Freshner Corporation.”
Under the “Little Trees” sponsorship, Olsen has won two NASCAR Busch East Series Championships (2001 and 2006); posted six wins – including his infamous last lap pass on Sean Caisse at NHIS last year for his first superspeedway victory; won the Most Popular Driver Award (2001); and finished in the top-10 in points every year except for one.
“It’s been a great 12 years,” Olsen added. “And it’s pretty amazing to be starting our 200th race together here in the NASCAR Busch East Series. This has been my home, and I’m just thrilled that we’ve been so successful together.”
Sources: Penny Aicardi/Mike Olsen PR