History

“It’s in our blood”, racing that is. This is the answer you’re sure to receive if you ever ask any member of the Petrie family why they race cars. Racing isn’t just a hobby to the members of the Petrie family, it’s a tradition handed down for the past six decades. Sammy Sauer, a legend in Colorado racing history, began racing there in the early 1950’s, having won countless features, as well as numerous track championships in his career. Tragically, Sammy’s life was cut short in 1978 at Colorado National Speedway during a fatal crash. None the less, the tradition had already been passed down to his younger cousin Pat Petrie Sr. Pat began his career in Denver, Colorado in 1963 at the age of 17, too young to race at his home track of Lakeside Speedway, Pat ventured to Englewood Speedway and lied about his age to begin his stellar career. The next year Pat moved back to Lakeside and in the years to follow would come to win too many Features to count as well as three Track Championships. Pat would also set the trend of running two cars in two separate classes, a feat that was nearly unheard of in those days, but with the help of his Father and Crew Chief Sam Petrie, Pat’s success would only continue to grow. In 1969, Pat married his lovely wife Kathie. Shortly there after Pat’s son Sammy would gain the benefit of a little brother with the birth of Pat Petrie Jr. in 1970. Their family would continue to grow with the additions of Joe, Jim, and Donny, and then they broke the “Boy” curse with Katie, ending the streak at 6. All the while Pat continued his racing domination over Lakeside Speedway winning 3 Track Championships in two different divisions. While competing at many other tracks in the Southwest including Craig Road Speedway, Pat and crew would venture to the Las Vegas track for Open Comp events. It was during one of these trips that Pat realized that you could race in Vegas year round, and so the Petrie’s moved to Henderson, Nevada in 1983. Little did Pat know that he had five boys watching his every move on and off the track. Pat stopped racing shortly there after to take time for his family, but racing came back to the Petrie family in 1991 when Pat Jr. decided it was his time to carry on the tradition and began racing in the Claimer division at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (now known as the “Bullring”). Pat Sr. guided his son in the right direction as his Crew Chief and watched Pat Jr. climb the ladder through the divisions. Pat was also aided in his journey by his high school sweetheart and now wife Vikci. It was during the 1996 race season that Jim began his career starting out in the Charger division taking Rookie of the Year honors. Jim also began to advance through the ranks competing in the Grand American Modified Division, and by his side the whole time stood his wife Erin. Joe had found his invaluable niche in the team as Chief Mechanic and Engine Builder with his wife Ann contributing as support for all the boys at the track. Sam also aided his brothers in the pits and drove in the Claimer Division for a couple of seasons. Donny was also a valued crew member and even got on the track during the first season of the Bullring Bomber Division in a car that was built by his brothers. Pat Sr. began to feel the itch again, and with help of his Crew Chief and son Joe, built himself a Charger for the 2000 season. Pat Sr. had once again proven his racing excellence leading the division in points until his season was cut short due to a Heart attack in the pits after a feature. It took the EMT’s on site, as well as Race Director Mike Stafford and fellow driver Dan Schools, five minutes to restore Pat’s heartbeat. He then underwent open heart surgery and spent three weeks in the hospital ending his 2000 run for the Championship. If there is any true statement you can make about a Petrie, it’s that you might knock them down, but you’ll never knock them out. Pat Sr. came back the next season and lit the track on fire, blazing his way to his fourth Track Championship in 2001, 22 years after his last. Pat Jr. had also found ultimate success that season winning the Track Championship in the Late Model division. Pat Sr., retired from racing after that season saying “ There’s no better way to end it!”, although every once in a while you may catch a glimpse of a car hot lapping that just seems to be flying around the track with an old school style, rest assured that Pat Sr. will never truly give up racing. Jim then found success back in the Charger Division winning Main Events and running with the best. He made a name for himself by his hard charging attitude and now pilots the #1 Southern Nevada PDCA/FCA and Findlay Chevrolet Super Late Model in the Bullrings premier Class. Pat Jr.,after competing successfully in nearly every division the Bullring has to offer, now competes primarily in the Lucas Oil Modified Series presented by Rockstar. Over the years the team has evolved and grown. They have gone by many names, and are now known as H-Town Racing, boding a team of four drivers including Jim and Pat Jr. as well as long time family friends Jeff Bargerhuff and Tom Pfundstein. Bargerhuff has competed in the Super Late Models and Chargers. Pfundstein whose 2010 rookie season was in the Charger division will spend 2011 joining Pat on the Lucas Oil Modified presented by Rockstar series. One thing you can count on is that the Petrie’s and H-Town racing “Have It in their blood”.