TODAY’S TALKER

Boy helps driver Brandon Brown put new spin on ‘Let’s go’

Brandon Brown wanted a way to change the narrative behind the “Let’s go, Brandon” message after his first career NASCAR victory inadvertently fostered a chant that has been used to insult President Joe Biden. Brown found that new message thanks to the family of an 8-year-old boy with autism.

Brandon Brundidge of Cottage Grove, Minn., was on a spring break trip to Houston in March and saw signs with the “Let’s go, Brandon” phrase. He believed the signs were meant to encourage him. He consequently started trying activities he’d never attempted before, such as learning to swim and removing training wheels from his bicycle. His mother, Sheletta Brundidge, used that story to write a children’s book, “Brandon Spots His Sign.”

Brown had the cover of Brundidge’s book on the hood of his Camaro for his Xfinity Series race Saturday in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.“to have this come through was like that breakthrough moment for us,” Brown said. “This can be positive. This can be good. It doesn’t have to be hateful or divisive.”

This divisiveness had started after Brown earned his first career NASCAR victory last October. The crowd at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway chanted “(Expletive) Joe Biden” during the winner’s postrace interview. NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast incorrectly told Brown the fans were chanting,“let’s go, Brandon.”from that point,“let’s go, Brandon,” became a rallying cry for Biden critics.“i’ve just been hopeful that I could make it a positive, I could have my name back and not have it be so divisive and scary,” Brown said.