Kelsi Pederson Makes History as First Woman to Win Late-Model Feature at River Cities Speedway

On Friday night, Kelsi Pederson captured the 20-lap late-model feature at River Cities Speedway, becoming the inaugural female winner of the event. Piloting the No. 93 chassis that her mother, Julie Pederson, raced in the 1990s, Kelsi edged out a field of 25 competitors to take the checkered flag. The triumph came a week after Julie was posthumously honored in the Speedway Hall of Fame, adding emotional weight to the victory.

Tucker Pederson, Kelsi’s brother, finished runner-up, while Shane Edginton, Mike Greseth and Dustin Strand completed the top five, and their father Joey placed sixth. Kelsi, originally a lightning sprint driver, transitioned to late models last summer and has already posted strong finishes, including a third place at Devils Lake Speedway in June 2025. The Pederson family, long-time participants at the track, view the result as a tribute to Julie’s pioneering role for women in racing. They now aim for a 1-2-3 finish in future events, a goal still pending.