GLYNDON, Minn. - Brady Petermann can't legally drive a car on a city street. But that didn't stop him from getting behind the wheel at the Buffalo River Race Park on Sunday.
"It feels pretty awesome," Petermann said. "I always thought if you drove something you'd have to have a license, but with racing you don't."
Petermann from Hawley, Minn., began his young racing career at the age of 8, driving go-karts in Staples, Minn., during the winter and in West Fargo during the summer.
He participated in his first sanctioned race last year when he was just 12 years old and is already climbing the ladder of success. Normally, the required age is 14, but he got the approval from the Buffalo River Race Park and INEX to compete. INEX is the sanctioning body of the Legends class.
Petermann has won two feature races this year and after a third-place finish in Sunday's feature, he is currently ranked No. 5 overall in the Legend class with 380 points.
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Sitting just four spots down at No. 9 and trailing by 60 points is his father, Brian Petermann.
"It's all right, I missed a week so that's what set me back," Brian Petermann said with a smile. "But he does pretty much beat me on a regular basis. I tell him I just like to drive behind him so I can see his driving skill. Tell him what he's doing wrong."
Brian Petermann found his need for speed about six years ago when he was able to try out a car and was hooked from then on. He has claimed one feature race victory in his career and finished in 8th place on Sunday.
Winning the race was the national points leader Shane Williams. Williams has won five straight features at Buffalo River and doesn't let Brady Petermann's age get the best of him.
"He's a tough little runner," Williams said. "He's a good clean racer, fun to race against. It's pretty neat."
BRRP Hornets
Heat 1: 1, Chris Julsrud, Moorhead. 2, Cody Meyer, Glyndon, Minn. 3, Aaron LeRoux, Dilworth.
Heat 2: 1, Thomas Ahrndt, Hawley, Minn. 2, Tommy Habedank, Mahnomen, Minn. 3, Michael Breiter, Hawley, Minn.
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Feature: 1, Habedank. 2, Ahrndt. 3, LeRoux. 4, Breiter. 5, Cody Meyer, Glyndon, Minn.
BRRP Legends
Heat 1: 1, Shane Williams, Minot, N.D. 2, Donavin Wiest, Wishek, N.D. 3, Andrew Sommerfeld, Bismarck.
Heat 2: 1, Brady Petermann, Minn. 2, Paul Morman, Wishek, N.D. 3, Kasey Kurtz, Perham, Minn.
Feature: 1, Williams. 2, Morman. 3, Petermann. 4, Wiest. 5, Sommerfeld.
BRRP Pure Stocks
Heat 1: 1, Luke Johnson, Glyndon, Minn. 2, Jon Nettleton, Dilworth. 3, Kristen Nelson, West Fargo.
Heat 2: 1, Kelly Jacobson, Fargo. 2, Kyle Dykhoff, Perham, Minn. 3, Cody Fuller, Moorhead.
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Feature: 1, Johnson. 2, Nelson. 3, Norm Olson, Glyndon, Minn. 4, Gardner. 5, Nettleton.
Wissota Midwest Mod
Heat 1: 1, Charlie Jensen, Glyndon, Minn. 2, Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn. 3, Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.
Heat 2: 1, Tom Andring, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 2, Tony Engelstad, Fertile, Minn. 3, Tyler Peterson, Hickson, S.D.
Feature: 1, Peterson. 2, Hall. 3, VanMil. 4, Greg Larson, Kindred, N.D. 5, Jensen.
Wissota Mod Four
Heat 1: 1, Corry VanMil, Lake Park, Minn. 2, Aaron Wetterlin, Moorhead. 3, Troy Kuehl, Glyndon, Minn.
Heat 2: 1, Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn. 2, Josh Abrahamson, Moorhead. 3, Dustin Knutson, Lake Park, Minn.
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Feature: 1, R. VanMil. 2, Abrahamson. 3, Knutson. 4, C. VanMil. Wetterlin.
Wissota Street Stocks
Heat 1: 1, James Tandeski, Christine, N.D. 2, Ryan Pommerer, Oriska, N.D. 3, Jim Geringer, Harwood, N.D.
Heat 2: 1, Rick Schulz, Horace, N.D. 2, Ryan Satter, Dent, Minn. 3, Doug VanMil, Bagley, Minn.
Feature: 1, Pommerer. 2, VanMil. 3, Schulz. 4, Jordan Durary. 5, Tandeski.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Glenn Pursley at (701) 451-5549
