Courtesy of Mlive.com

It’s not all that unusual to see a female excelling in motorsports these days, especially in the opening weeks of the 2011 season.

Simona De Silvestro finished third in the IndyCar opener at St. Petersburg. Danica Patrick took fourth in the NASCAR Nationwide race at Las Vegas.

Let me tell you about one more: AMA Arenacross Series rider Vicki Golden.

Arenacross is wrapping up its season Saturday night in Des Moines, Iowa, and it has been a history-making season for the circuit and Golden. She is the first female to race Arenacross full time, and let’s give the Temecula, Calif., native her due.

Arenacross is a physically, grueling sport, but Golden, 18, has proven that she can hang with the boys.

She previously raced in the women’s pro ranks, but the season is just too short, she said. So, Golden turned her attention to the men’s circuit.

Golden isn’t the first female to hop on a bike and race against the guys. However, she is the first to do it full time, and that makes her one of racing’s most compelling personalities this season.

But Golden isn’t concerned about history. She is just pursuing the sport she loves.

“I didn’t want to give myself one shot,” Golden told the Press regarding her decision to go full-time in the Arenacross West Lites ranks this season. “If I decided to enter just one race, you are putting a lot of  pressure on yourself, and it would be a big disappointment if you don’t do well.

“Everyone has a lot of experience. and I’m still taking the baby steps and learning. But it has been fun, and I love it.”

The West Michigan-based Babbitt Monster Energy Kawasaki team wrapped up the season championship with rider Tyler Bowers last weekend in Rockford, Ill. It is the fourth championship in the past six years for team owner Eddie Babbitt.

Golden started racing in 2005, and she won an AMA Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship in 2008. Golden, who is tied for 23rd place in the West Lites point standings, called her first season a success – on and off the course.

“It has been awesome,” Golden said. “Everyone treats me like I’m another rider. It is definitely not what I expected. I expected I would be out there doing my own thing. But everyone has stepped up and given me a lot of advice and support.”