Joey Pederson raced his new late model at River Cities Speedway last week. Before the night, he wondered if his new car was as fast and as good as the one he drove to a track championship in 2012.
It's early, but the answer so far is yes.
Pederson won the late model feature, roaring out to a big lead before holding off Dustin Strand in lapped traffic for the win as the green flag fell on the 15th season of racing at RCS. It was his 23rd late model win at the speedway.
"I still have the car from last year," said Pederson. "I don't want to get rid of it until I'm confident the new one is just as good or better than the one I had last year."
Pederson was fast all night. He was one of only a handful of drivers to turn laps quicker than 13 seconds.
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In the feature, Pederson was the only driver to turn a lap under 13 seconds. On Lap 1, his time on the quarter-mile track was 12.916 seconds (83.617 mph). He was a shade faster in his heat race, 12.737 seconds (84.792 mph). That was the fastest lap time of the night for the late models.
"I drive every lap like it's my last," said Pederson, who has won three RCS late model season titles. "You never know if someone is on your heels.
"But when I hit lapped traffic, I'm probably too cautious. I get nervous that I'll wreck the car. Often times, whatever lead I do have usually goes away."
Pederson will be out for another feature win tonight as a regular night of racing is planned at RCS.
But that will be just the first part of the racing weekend for the East Grand Forks driver.
Pederson will run Saturday and Sunday at Viking Speedway near Alexandria, Minn., where the first NLRA tour event of the season is planned.
For the first time, Pederson said he plans to run the full NLRA tour, which, this season, has races planned at tracks in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba and Ontario.
"Running the full NLRA tour is something I've never done," said Pederson. "It's one of those things I've wanted to do before I hang it up. And the schedule has worked out this year where I can hopefully run all the shows."
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Brad Seng won the 2012 NLRA title.
Of all the stops on the NLRA tour, the stop at Viking may be the most difficult.
The Saturday and Sunday show is expected to attract the NLRA regulars in addition to some of the top drivers in Minnesota.
Past NLRA winners at Viking include Pat Doar, who ran last season on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series; Jeff Wildung; Zach Johnson; Justin Fegers; and Mitch Johnson.
Nelson reports on sports. Call him at (701) 780-1268; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1268; or send e-mail to wnelson@gfherald.com .
