2015 ASCS Frontier Region driver preview: Shad Petersen

4/30/2015

ASCS

2015 ASCS Frontier Region driver preview: Shad Petersen

Andrew Kunas - COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - Shad Petersen isn't shy about his small racing operation and even pokes a little fun at himself about it on ocassion, but he's always determined to do the best he can with what he's got, and have fun while he's at it. The Casper, Wyoming driver will be determined to do so again in 2015, planning to run as many races as he can with the Frontier Region of the American Sprint Car Series.

Petersen, the pilot of the Valley Novotny Racing No. 2 machine, has been around sprint cars his whole life but started his motorsports career in motorcycle trials competition, which he still participates in regularly. Petersen is a four time Wyoming Pro champion and several times has been ranked nationally, including currently being ranked seventh in the U.S.

He also has his travelling show, Play with Gravity, and has performed all around the western half of the country.

Always wanting to get into a sprint car, Petersen did finally jump into one in 2006, but only raced occasionally for several seasons. It was in 2013 when he decided to dedicate more of his time to his sprint car racing. In 2014, Petersen ran most of the ASCS Frontier Region schedule and raced 20 times in all last season, the most in one year for him. And it had all been in the same car.

While racing in older equipment, Petersen still felt he learned a lot in 2014, racing often with the faster competition he felt there was in Montana with the ASCS Frontier Region. Getting two Top 10 finishes during the season were like victories to him.

"I want to make even more races than last season, and hopefully get a few more Top 10's with this series," Petersen said. "We have a new car and a fresh motor, so it will be a bit of a learning curve since I have only driven one car my entire career. But my goal is to get faster, and I think racing with the ASCS Frontier Region guys is the best way to do that."

With more seat time and experience after last season, the 29-year-old Petersen could well find himself running towards the front a little more often in 2015. The No. 2 team now has a newer Rocket Chassis and a fresh JTeam motor that will power the car. McCune Recovery and Freight Train are other sponsors in addition to Novotny Racing and Petersen's own Play with Gravity.

While he's had to travel to Montana in the past for ASCS Frontier Region competition, Petersen will get to stay in his home state for a race this year as the tour will race in Wyoming for the first time on Friday, September 11th when it visits the newly re-opening Sheridan Speedway. More Wyoming events are possible for the Frontier Region in the future.

While trying to get faster and become a better driver, Petersen is still making sure to have fun racing and hanging out with the other drivers in the pit area. He usually pits next to his friends Jeremy McCune and son Damon McCune and often seeks out advice from his fellow competitors.

"The biggest thing is that sprint car racing is one of my passions and I really enjoy meeting and racing with other people who have that same passion I do. Ever since I was four years old, riding in our '69 Chevy camper to Rapid City (Black Hills Speedway in South Dakota) to race every Friday night, I knew this is what I wanted to do, and it has been a blast so far."

Petersen and his fellow competitors will kick off the ASCS Frontier Region's third season of competition on Friday and Saturday, May 8th and 9th at Billings Motorsports Park, located north of the city on U.S. Hwy 87. The series is right back at it the next weekend with a two-night stand at Electric City Speedway in Great Falls, Mont.

The Frontier Region of the American Sprint Car Series, presented in part by Speedmart Inc. is a winged 360 dirt sprint car tour racing around the state of Montana and beyond. More information on the ASCS Frontier Region can be found online at frontier.ascsracing.com or you can follow the series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ascsfrontier. The national website of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV American Real is www.ascsracing.com.

American Sprint Car Series - Fronter Region
2015 schedule subject to change

May 8 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT
May 9 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT
May 15 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT
May 16 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT
June 12 - Gallatin Speedway - Belgrade, MT
June 13 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT
June 19 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT
June 20 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT
July 17 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT (with ASCS National Tour)
July 18 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT (with ASCS National Tour)
July 31 - Gallatin Speedway - Belgrade, MT
August 1 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT
August 14 - Gallatin Speedway - Belgrade, MT
August 15 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT
September 4 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT (21st Annual Montana Roundup)
September 5 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT (21st Annual Montana Roundup)
September 6 - Electric CIty Speedway - Great Falls, MT (21st Annual Montana Roundup)
September 11 - Sheridan Speedway - Sheridan, WY
September 12 - Gallatin Speedway - Belgrade, MT (Gibson Guitar Big Sky Supernationals)
September 18 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT (Dan Laber Memorial)
September 19 - Billings Motorsports Park - Shepherd, MT (Dan Laber Memorial)