Patrick Pedersen, World Champion
A Driver History and Profile
By Kevin J. Pedersen
Patrick Pedersen is a world champion drag boat racer in his 1st season, an
owner-operator trucker, a private pilot with nearly one thousand flight
hours, a motorcycle rider, and a loving and caring father and husband.
In 2007 Patrick and his family went to Augusta, Georgia,
for the IHBA Augusta Southern Nationals. They brought
“Sweet Emotion”, an
unproven boat some said was a piece of junk but found out later it was a
star! He placed 4th at Augusta in the first event of his drag boat racing
career, despite having had trouble with the boat.
After the Augusta boat troubles, Patrick was doubtful he
would do well at Gadsden, Alabama. On the way out to the starting line for
qualifications, the kill switch popped and left him sitting in the water.
After this he put a new kill switch in the boat and ran an eighty-five
mile an hour pass! At Augusta, no one had suspected the kill switch had
been loose and was trying to kill the engine, which is a big block
Ford
460, every time he would run. During his time at Gadsden, he unseated
nine-time world champion, Skully Alley, Jr., and won the race in River
Racer there.
In September he went to New Athens, Illinois, to compete
there for the IHBA Division III title. At New Athens Patrick almost placed
first, except he had red lit by only –0.001 seconds, which is only one
millisecond!
In November of 2007 Patrick went for the grand slam of
them all: the IHBA Coors Light World Finals in Phoenix, Arizona. He had
many competitors in his class that were out for blood; the funny thing is
that the big guys in river racer, Steve Stokes and Keith Sayles, both were
eliminated first round by getting red lights. Patrick sailed through the
round until the final when he had to race Bobby Lasster. Bobby did not
beat Patrick by much. Patrick said after this, “Hey, we placed runner-up,
but we got what we came out here to get. We came here to get that Division
III trophy and we did.” Patrick took Division III by making 235 more
points than Skully Alley, Jr. Patrick credits his success to family, son
Kevin, wife Jeanne, and father Bill, who serve as his pit crew,
commenting, “None of this would be possible without my family. It’s a
family affair. They are my support and my crew!”
Right now, Patrick and son, Kevin Pedersen, are performing
maintenance on their baby,
"Sweet Emotion",
the winning drag boat. Its tough waiting for the new racing season, but it
will come soon. Meanwhile Patrick and Kevin are getting ready to open a
boat sales and service/machine/powder-coating shop.
We would like to thank our sponsor, Little John’s Motor
Sports, for their contributions.
In two years Patrick will have finished his new boat named
“Barracuda,” which will have an aspirated then blown 460 big block Ford.
Also, he will be handing the reins of Sweet Emotion over to his son, Kevin
Pedersen.
Thank you, Little John, for sponsoring us. We are very
excited and proud to be associated with Little John's Motorsports.
Kevin, Jeanne, Bill and Patrick Pedersen
Awards and Accomplishments.
In a very short time, Patrick has done all in one rookie
year of racing what most drivers strive for years to accomplish.
2007 World Champion, Division III – River Racer
Lucas Oil IHBA Drag Boat Series Winner 2007
2007 Runner-Up River Racer
Lucas Oil IHBA Drag Boat Series 25th Annual Coors Light World Finals
Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Arizona, November 15-18, 2007,
Runner-Up
2007 Champion River Racer
Lucas Oil IHBA Drag Boat Series
Southern Thunder Nationals
Gadsden, Alabama, July 27-29, 2007, Winner
2007 Runner-Up River Racer
Saint Louis Drag Boat Association
New Athens Drag Boat Classic, September 8-9, 2007, Runner-Up
New Athens 2007 runner-up,
He has two runner-up plaques, one winner trophy, one division trophy, and
a personalized custom jacket.
(click here for
the pictures)
Thank you, again, Little John's Motor Sports, for sponsoring us!
Boat Specs:
The boat is a 1984 Bahner Earl
Smith Texas tunnel. It has a Ford 460 in it that is rated at 600
horsepower. It is propelled by a Berkeley jet drive. The motor uses a
MSD ignition box. It has all Auto Meter gauges. The motor has a Milodan
oil pan.
Boat Make-Earl Smith/Bahner
Boat Model-1984 Texas Tunnel
Engine Model-Ford
Engine Make-460
Driver-Patrick Pedersen
Crew-Son Kevin Pedersen, wife Jeanne Pedersen, father Billy Pedersen
Hometown-Mauk GA
Boat Name-Sweet Emotion #379
Boat Class-River Racer
Jet Drive Make-Berkeley race pump
