Andrew Kunas - COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho - Shad Petersen has indicated his intention to run nearly every event with the Brodix Frontier Region of the American Sprint Car Series in 2017.
The Casper, Wyoming driver, who has been racing sprint cars since 2006 and on a more regular basis since 2013, has stated that he's only expecting to miss two events due to prior commitments. He plans to be in the field next Friday when the ASCS Frontier Region opens its 2017 season at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota and then races in Gillette, Wyoming the next evening.
Petersen, popular and well liked by his fellow racers, appeared in eight ASCS Frontier Region A-Feature events in 2016, his best finish being a sixth place effort in the Big Sky Super Nationals at Gallatin Speedway in Montana in September. It capped off a run of four straight Top 10 finishes in ASCS Frontier Region competition to close the season.
Prior to 2016, Petersen only had a pair of Top 10 finishes with the ASCS Frontier Region, so last season was a clear improvement. He's hoping for more success in 2017 aboard the Vallie Novotny Racing No. 2 Wyoming Performance-powered Rocket. He'll have plenty of opportunities - the two-night event at Black Hills Speedway in July are the only events he thinks he'll miss, and that's when the big dogs of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour are in the area. He otherwise will be at all Frontier regional events.
"Last year went well. I ended up with four Top 10's and I got into the redraw twice," Petersen said. "So I feel like we are finally starting to get where we need to be to be to start challenging guys at the front. I'm hoping to build on that this season and come away with more Top 10's than not, and hopefully pull off at least one Top 5 as well."
"My driving is getting better and we are making improvements to the car each week, so I think that's a very realistic goal," Petersen continued. "And who knows. If everything comes together just right and we run into some luck, I could see a possible podium for us too."
Petersen will have his longtime sponsors Novotny Racing back, along with Wyoming Performance, Hiser Farms and McCune Recovery. He has already raced with the ASCS Southwest Region this year in Arizona and New Mexico. Results have been mixed but he has come away with a Top 10 finish and a lot of valuable experience when it comes to set ups and learning track conditions. He hopes to put that knowledge to use when the ASCS Frontier Region starts the season next week.
In addtion to his sprint car racing activities, he'll continue with his Play With Gravity motorcycle demonstration show. He was performing in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho last weekend. Play With Gravity comes from his strong roots in motorcycle trials competition. He is a several time Wyoming Pro state champion and numerous times has ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
Another big change is coming for the 31-year-old this year. He and wife Katie are expecting their first child in the fall.
Next weekend's races will be the first two of 15 scheduled events at five dirt tracks across Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming for the Brodix ASCS Frontier Region in 2017. Four of those events will be will the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV Motorsports Network in July. Rod End Supply has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of victory lane celebrations on the Frontier Region circuit in 2017.
More information on the ASCS Frontier Region, National Tour and other ASCS regional tours, including schedules and results, can be found onine at ascsracing.com. You can also find the series on Facebook.
- Bryan Hulbert on May 31, 2017
- Article Date: 5/31/2017