One for the record books: Pederson’s become first father-daughter duo to win at River Cities on same night!

Joey Pederson capped off the night by winning the Late Model feature at River Cities Speedway.

Kelsi Pederson in victory lane at River Cities Speedway.

By Spieker Promotions

EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. (August 1, 2018) – It was a storybook night for the entire Joey Pederson Racing team last Friday night at River Cities Speedway. Both Joey and Kelsi Pederson picked up wins in their respective classes to become the first father-daughter duo to visit victory lane on the same night. 

“To win on the same night as either one of my kids, that’s a special night,” said an elated Joey Pederson in victory lane. “My son, Tucker, is knocking on the door to getting his first feature win too, but I have to remember he’s only 14. He’s still cutting his teeth… but this is a special night,”

Following a second-place run in his heat, Joey started on the pole for the 20-lap Wissota Late Model feature. Joey jumped out to the lead over fellow front row starter Travis Robertson. Robertson hung with Joey in the early stages until Mike Balcaen moved into second.

Pederson built up a somewhat comfortable lead around the midway point, but Balcaen, running his patented low line, began closing in throughout the second half of the event. Pederson sliced his way through lapped traffic, while Balcaen got held up.

That was all Pederson needed to hold on to for his second consecutive win at River Cities and third overall.

In similar fashion, Kelsi dominated the NLSA Lightning Sprint feature, leading all 15 trips around the high-banked three-tenths mile bullring. A drive from sixth to third in her heat put Kelsi on the pole for the feature. Kelsi held off Presley Truedson for her third win of 2018.

Tucker picked up a heat race win to start the night on Friday. In the feature, he raced to an 11th place finish.

On Saturday, all three Pedersons were in action at Greenbush Race Park in Greenbush, Minn. Joey began the night by picking up a heat win with the NLRA Late Models, which put him on the front row for the feature.

Unfortunately, Joey brought out the first caution before having to rejoin the field at the tail of the field. On the restart, Joey got caught up in a five-car pile up, which brought his night to an end.

Kelsi started fourth and finished fourth in her heat, but mechanical issues kept her from starting the feature.

Tucker’s stout performance highlighted the night on Saturday. The sophomore Wissota Street Stock driver raced to the heat win, which put him sixth on the grid for the feature. Tucker moved into the third spot at the halfway point and held off Casey Vargason to claim the final spot on the podium.

2018 Stats:
Joey Pederson:
Races: 11
​Wins: 3
Top Fives: 7
Top Tens: 9
​
Kelsi Pederson:
Races: 18
Wins: 3
Top Fives: 13
Top Tens: 14

Tucker Pederson
Races: 15
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 8
Top Tens: 11