ST. LOUIS – Tyler Peterson just wanted a shot to race in the invite-only Gateway Dirt Nationals.
On Saturday, he turned his chance into the biggest win of his modified racing career. Peterson hustled from the fourth-starting position for his first double-digit payday at $10,000 inside The Dome at America’s Center.
Peterson’s 22nd win of the year came 1.362 seconds over Michael Ledford.
“I’m kind of a soft guy, I could probably start crying right about now,” Peterson said in victory lane. “I have so many damn people in this place that came down here to support me. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the apparel they bought this week. Cody Jacobs, the whole gang that puts this deal together … I can’t wait to come back next year because I’m guaranteed an invite now.
“We’ve been trying for three years,” Peterson said. “We finally got it.”
Peterson charged around polesitter Jordan Grabouski with 16 laps to go and did everything thereafter to seal the deal.
Grabowski held serve in the first half of the race but lost the lead when Peterson found momentum around the middle part of the track. Peterson beat Grabouski to the start-finish line by a nose on lap 14, moments before a caution period went into effect for Joe Dresch.
That stood as the race’s final caution of the evening.
Nick Hoffman finished on the third and rounded out his Gateway Dirt Nationals a perfect seven-for-seven with podium finishes in three different types of race cars.
Jeff Larson and Grabouski completed the top five.
The finish:
Tyler Peterson, Michael Ledford, Nick Hoffman, Jeff Larson, Jordan Grabouski, Tyler Droste, Mike Harrison, Chad Bauer, Mike McKinney, Kyle Steffens, Billy Smith, Brandon Bollinger, Dean Hoffman, Joe Dresch, Chase Allen, Chad Sellers, Trent Young, Bobby Bittle, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Ricky Thornton Jr.