Golden Ready to Take Next Historic Step, in Wichita
March 4, 2011 4:30pm
AURORA, Ill. – It started with the inclination and desire to race year round, and now it has turned into a groundbreaking initiative in the sport. When Vicki Golden decided to become a full-time competitor in the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series, she had no idea it would garner so much attention and make her renowned figure in women’s motocross.
Since turning pro in 2009, Golden’s opportunity to compete is limited to each summer as part of the Women’s Motocross National Championship. A growing, yet still small demographic within the sport, women’s motocross has yet to make waves within the realm of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, but thanks to the increased popularity of the female side of racing, the depth of talent within the class, and now the historic initiative by Golden, females are closer to getting there than ever before.
Five rounds ago, Golden made her AMA Arenacross Series debut from Denver, Colo., and promptly garnered high praise when she qualified for the night show in her first attempt at a foreign discipline. Prior to that weekend, she had already made history by committing to compete in the remainder of the Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship. Qualifying for the evening program was icing on the cake and the fact that she fell just one spot shy of making the main event over the course of two nights of action was an added bonus.
Since then, Golden has endured the trials and tribulations any rookie competitor encounters in his or her first season. She continued to hone her speed and abilities on the tight, technical layouts of the AMA Arenacross Series and improved each and every week.
As the Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship entered Sacramento’s ARCO Arena last weekend, Golden felt like she was at the point where she could be a legitimate contender in her heat race and could ultimately qualify for her first main event, the ultimate goal since entering the series. After grabbing the holeshot in the heat race, she did just that, keeping pace with her male counterparts and finishing fifth. Already accomplishing something that no female before her had ever done, Golden was now entering uncharted territory as the first woman to race in an AMA Arenacross Series main event.
While her opportunity to shine didn’t quite go as planned once the gates dropped on the main event, Golden finally understood what it takes to be a leader in the Arenacross Lites class. Now, she’s focused on her next achievement of capturing a top-10 overall finish. After putting in a lot of work on her starts and her speed in the whoops, Golden feels she has what it takes and will look to add to what has already been an ultra-successful rookie campaign Saturday night from INTRUST Bank Arena.
INTRUST Bank Arena is the newest venue in the AMA Arenacross Series. It opened just over a year ago on January 2, 2010, and is the largest indoor arena in the state of Kansas and one of the most state-of-the-art arenas in the Midwest.
Its first year as the home of the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League was successful, being ranked in the annual Pollstar Top 50 Arena Venues for ticket sales. In just a short period of time, the arena has hosted major concerts featuring legendary names like Elton John, Billy Joel, Reba McEntire, The Eagles and Brooks & Dunn.
The action commences for the Wichita Arenacross this Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. Amateur Day concludes an exciting weekend of action on Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. CT
Advance tickets are available for the Wichita Arenacross at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, selectaseat.com, and by phone at 316-755-SEAT. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.
New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.
Since turning pro in 2009, Golden’s opportunity to compete is limited to each summer as part of the Women’s Motocross National Championship. A growing, yet still small demographic within the sport, women’s motocross has yet to make waves within the realm of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, but thanks to the increased popularity of the female side of racing, the depth of talent within the class, and now the historic initiative by Golden, females are closer to getting there than ever before.
Five rounds ago, Golden made her AMA Arenacross Series debut from Denver, Colo., and promptly garnered high praise when she qualified for the night show in her first attempt at a foreign discipline. Prior to that weekend, she had already made history by committing to compete in the remainder of the Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship. Qualifying for the evening program was icing on the cake and the fact that she fell just one spot shy of making the main event over the course of two nights of action was an added bonus.
Since then, Golden has endured the trials and tribulations any rookie competitor encounters in his or her first season. She continued to hone her speed and abilities on the tight, technical layouts of the AMA Arenacross Series and improved each and every week.
As the Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship entered Sacramento’s ARCO Arena last weekend, Golden felt like she was at the point where she could be a legitimate contender in her heat race and could ultimately qualify for her first main event, the ultimate goal since entering the series. After grabbing the holeshot in the heat race, she did just that, keeping pace with her male counterparts and finishing fifth. Already accomplishing something that no female before her had ever done, Golden was now entering uncharted territory as the first woman to race in an AMA Arenacross Series main event.
While her opportunity to shine didn’t quite go as planned once the gates dropped on the main event, Golden finally understood what it takes to be a leader in the Arenacross Lites class. Now, she’s focused on her next achievement of capturing a top-10 overall finish. After putting in a lot of work on her starts and her speed in the whoops, Golden feels she has what it takes and will look to add to what has already been an ultra-successful rookie campaign Saturday night from INTRUST Bank Arena.
INTRUST Bank Arena is the newest venue in the AMA Arenacross Series. It opened just over a year ago on January 2, 2010, and is the largest indoor arena in the state of Kansas and one of the most state-of-the-art arenas in the Midwest.
Its first year as the home of the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League was successful, being ranked in the annual Pollstar Top 50 Arena Venues for ticket sales. In just a short period of time, the arena has hosted major concerts featuring legendary names like Elton John, Billy Joel, Reba McEntire, The Eagles and Brooks & Dunn.
The action commences for the Wichita Arenacross this Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. Amateur Day concludes an exciting weekend of action on Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. CT
Advance tickets are available for the Wichita Arenacross at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, selectaseat.com, and by phone at 316-755-SEAT. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.
New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.