Over the weekend, some sports fans were indoors watching future hockey stars like Connor McDavid get drafted into the NHL.

Mud racer Lee Briand couldn’t tell you who that is, although the Nova Scotian could probably still pick Sidney Crosby out of a crowd.

Briand was busy watching a talented young mud racer that weekend — his 17-year-old son Austin Briand, who began racing when he was 14.

Austin has won three North West Mud Racing Association championships, and he’s only been racing for about four years now.

“I’ve blown through competition like it’s nothing,” Austin said, frankly.

“A lot of these adults here haven’t even won three championships, let alone at 17,” Lee said of his son.

The Briand’s live in 100 Mile House and Austin, a second-generation mud racer, grew up around the sport.

“We have pictures of him, two-years-old, working on the trucks,” Lee said.

Starting in A Class — the only class he was allowed to race in as a 14-year-old — Austin got a feel for racing.

The first time he ever raced, Austin was scared.

Then came the adrenaline rush.

“You went so fast, you got your heart beating out of your chest, and you keep wanting more,” Austin said.

“You go so fast in so little time. It’s a great feeling.”

At age 15, he was making 3.5 second runs through 200-feet of mud without nitrous.

Austin’s current, and new, 2,800 horsepower pro-cut class racer, dubbed Insanity, made it’s maiden run at the Merritt races in just 2.8 seconds.

His fastest time is 2.7 seconds.

Austin’s passion for racing, like Jesse’s, stems from watching his dad race.

“I just really wanted to do that, and when he got a blower truck, I was like oh my God, I want to do that. I want to go fast,” he said.

Austin put in a lot of hard work and dedication to racing, even leaving school early sometimes to work on his vehicles.

“It’s like my ultimate hobby,” he said noting he wants to be a mechanic for a living.

Lee would have raced with his son as well, but his transmission pumped failed, leaving the elder Briand on the sidelines.

In classic dad fashion, Lee admitted he was nervous leading up to his son’s first race.

“I’m just trying not to show it, because this is a very big motor,” Lee said.

After a very successful run in Insanity, Austin said his pass was a good adrenaline rush.

“It was pretty friggen insane,” he said.