Unlike the 2021 WISSOTA Modified National Championship that came down to the final lap of the final race of the season, this year back-to-back champion Tyler Peterson could breathe a little easier down the stretch run as he held a manageable lead over runner up Shane Sabraski during the final month of the season to solidify his second straight national title.
In fact, Peterson, from Hickson, ND ended up with a 59-point margin over Sabraski after winning 13 of his last 17 starts and ending his 2022 season with a whopping 30 victories in his 60 starts. Of the 60 starts, Peterson finished inside the top ten on 52 nights and ran inside the top five on 47 occasions.
As mentioned, Peterson raced to a personal-best 30 victories on the season including wins at the Casino Speedway in Watertown, SD; the Greenbush Race Park in Greenbush, MN, the Buffalo River Speedway in Glyndon, MN, the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN, the Norman County Speedway in Ada, MN, the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND, the Bemidji Speedway in Bemidji, MN and the Madison Speedway in Madison, MN along the way. Of his 30 wins, he chose a few that were memorable including sweeping the weekend of RV Tour events at Norman County, River Cities, Greenbush and Bemidji, plus his 12th to 1st run to win an RV Tour event at I-94 was also on the list. Other events that he mentioned that were key victories on the season were championship night of the John Seitz Memorial at River Cities, the WISSOTA 100, the Fallen Lineman Special and sweeping both nights of the Madtown Showdown in Madison.
Peterson, who has been a front runner in the open wheel divisions (WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds and WISSOTA Modifieds) throughout his entire career, put together his second straight dream season during the 2022 season to reach his ultimate goal of winning WISSOTA’s National title for the second straight season.
Sponsors on Tyler’s #1TPO Race Cars include QuickLift by TP Fabricating, Wallwork, Heinrich Excavating, JS Small Engine, Hanson Ag Service, The Pit Stop of Clifford, Fastenal, Daly Construction, Cain Designs, AllFab Railings & Metalworks, Powdercoat Specialists and Knights of Columbus Beebe Agency.
Tyler is supported by his wife Sierra, his dad Matt, his mom Donna, as well as his crew, which consists of Jon Beebe and Zach Polaschek along with his dad and wife.
None of Tyler’s success would be possibly without the unwavering support of his family, friends and sponsors and when asked about winning his second straight National Championship he said ‘it’s an honor for sure not only to be on the list of National Champions, but to share that list with the stout drivers that I share that with. Thatcher, Buzzy, Shane, Jegtvig, the list goes on. Those are all guys that I grew up striving to be, true champions. It’s humbling to share that list with them, back-to-back is just a bonus.’
Tyler has been racing for 12 seasons, with his first 4 spent in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified division, before he moved into the WISSOTA Modified class, where he has been a driving force ever since.
Tyler mentioned winning the WISSOTA 100, hitting the 30-win mark in one season and clinching his second straight national title were obviously very memorable and important parts of the season. Unveiling his special #33 wrap mid-season to give some props to his dad’s favorite NASCAR driver Harry Gant was also a really cool moment for the team – something they will remember always.
Keep an eye on Tyler during the 2023 season as he looks to race often, win often and shoot for a National Championship three-peat.
Congrats!
The WISSOTA Promoters Association exists to benefit its member tracks to enhance safe, profitable and successful dirt track racing, through unified, cost-effective rules, policies and procedures, enacted within a democratic environment.
The WISSOTA Promoters Association was founded in 1981 by eight track promoters in Wisconsin and Minnesota, with intent to offer uniform rules for the promoters and drivers involved in the Late Model division. Soon, the group decided to do the same for the growing Modified division.
In 1984 a voluntary steering committee was formed to oversee the business aspects that developed and to guide the future of WISSOTA’s racing divisions. That steering committee evolved into a board of directors, and the non-profit racing organization became incorporated in 1986.
Promoters who join the organization become, in essence, part owners of the racing organization and are expected to contribute to its overall success. Each November, the WISSOTA annual meeting is held; the member promoters gather annually in this forum to discuss the future of the organization. Member promoters are given the opportunity to vote on all organizational policies and procedures as well as rules for competition in the various racing divisions. WISSOTA’s member promoters and racing associations have spent approximately 30 years of hard work at the annual meetings crafting unique rules for each of the divisions, which are known as WISSOTA Late Models, WISSOTA Modifieds, WISSOTA Super Stocks, WISSOTA Street Stocks, WISSOTA Mod Fours, WISSOTA Pure Stocks and WISSOTA Hornets.
WISSOTA is proudly sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tire, Speedway Motors, AFCO Racing Products, MyRacePass, Structural Buildings, Chevrolet Performance, Engine Quest, Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, World Products, Manley, QA1, Allstar Performance, Bassett, Brodix Cylinder Heads, AMI Graphics, Wilwood Disc Brakes, MSD, Minuteman Press Princeton, Simpson, Hooker Headers, Marv’s Trailer Sales, Leighton Broadcasting, Comp Cams, Aero, Joe Provo Racewear, Mahle, Moser Engineering, Winning Edge Graphics, Champ Pans, Performance Auto, ATD, Holley, American Solutions for Business, All Star Trophy and Awards, ERMA, and Garage-Tech X-treme.
For more information on WISSOTA, log on to www.WISSOTA.org.
(Photo provided by Tyler Peterson and AOK Photograpny)