Tucker Pederson chasing first River Cities Speedway points title

Aug. 31—GRAND FORKS — Tucker Pederson set lofty goals for 2023.

The 19-year-old street stock driver from East Grand Forks decided to chase the national WISSOTA points title.

To do so, he's put together a grueling schedule. Friday night's show at River Cities Speedway will mark his 60th race of the summer.

"It's really been a year full of highs and lows," Pederson said. "Running this much for national points, you put yourself in a position where you need to get two wins a weekend, you need to be really consistent to be in that battle. It's been hit or miss. We'll have four wins in a weekend or no wins. Those are your weekly highs and lows."

This weekend could be a high.

River Cities Speedway will hand out its track championship titles Friday to the point winners in each division.

Pederson, a 2022 East Grand Forks Sacred Heart graduate, is the leader in the streets division. He's 18 points ahead of Weston Ramsrud of Bagley, Minn. Seth Klostreich of Grand Forks is in third, 64 points behind Pederson.

Pederson has one previous track championship. He won the streets title at Greenbush, Minn., in 2020. This would be his first track championship at River Cities Speedway.

"It would be really cool," Pederson said. "Just growing up in that area, knowing a lot of drivers personally, it would be a really cool accomplishment. If we could pull that off, then end up on top of the national points title, it would be the best of both worlds. Winning a track championship shows consistency, because you need to finish up front each week. It would feel good. I'm hopeful we can pull it off."

The highlight of Pederson's summer came in mid-July.

Pederson raced six times in a nine-day stretch and won all six features.

"That was a good time," he said. "But then we also had some mechanical issues and transmission issues that probably cost us four or five top-threes. But that's part of the game you've got to play."

While the River Cities Speedway points battle will end this weekend, the WISSOTA national points battle will carry on into October.

Pederson currently is second in the national points race, 26 behind the leader, Braden Brauer of Eyota, Minn. Justin Vogel of Brooten, Minn., is third — nine points behind Pederson.

"I have a feeling it's going to be a real tight battle," Pederson said.

But first, he'll try to win a title at his home track.

"If I can get a good finish," Pederson said, "maybe we can lock in a track championship."

Track championships are up for grabs in other divisions, too.

In late models, Dustin Strand holds a 35-point lead over Brad Seng. Strand is looking for his 10th title at River Cities Speedway. He's won five late model championships, three Midwest Modifieds and one super stock.

Jory Berg has a commanding 63-point lead atop the Midwest Modifieds standings. Austin Hunter is in second place.

Grand Forks sprint driver Mark Dobmeier went to Altru Hospital after a nasty wreck during the World of Outlaws race at River Cities Speedway last weekend.

But he was back on the track quickly.

Dobmeier raced Sunday at Huset's Speedway in Sioux Falls, finishing third. Dobmeier won the hard charger, passing 12 cars.

He's expected to race Friday night in Grand Forks, where the sprint feature winner will take home $3,000.

Dobmeier leads Jack Croaker by 18 points in the Wayne Anderson Cup standings. Brendan Mullen and Austin Pierce won the first two Wayne Anderson Cups.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: River Cities Speedway.

Divisions: Non-wing sprints, streets, Midwest Modifieds, late models, sprints.