FOR SAMUEL PETERSON, drag racing is the only life he’ s ever known. The 24-year-old track prep specialist and event promoter based out of Michigan has been immersed in the sport thanks to a deeply rooted family legacy that stretches across multiple generations of dragstrip operators.

“ Before I was born, my mom and dad worked at Rockingham Dragway,” Peterson says.“ My grandpa, Steve Earwood, owned that for many years and just recently sold it. So, my earliest memories as a kid are from the tower watching IHRA national events and stuff like that.”

When his parents moved north in 2002, the next chapter of their racing journey began. His father accepted the position of general manager, and his mother joined the marketing team, at U. S. 131 Motorsports Park. More than two decades later, the Peterson family still works there, maintaining their deep connection to both the sport and community that has shaped their livelihood.

Growing up at the track, Peterson learned the ins and outs of what makes a racing surface fast, safe, and consistent. Over the years, that experience molded him into a meticulous track prep specialist who strives for perfection. His talent is now sought after by promoters across the country and his reputation has grown through dedication, long hours, and hands-on learning from some of the best in the industry.

In recent years, Peterson has traveled to major events alongside Sticky Mafia’ s Jimmy Bradshaw. Together, they’ ve worked everything from the Mid-West Drag Racing Series( MWDRS) to Street Car Takeover and many other large events. Peterson admits each track presents new challenges like weather conditions and differing racing surfaces, but he thrives on the problem-solving skills that his role demands.

One of the most rewarding parts of the job has been sharing the staging lanes with racers and teams he grew up idolizing.

“ One of my memories from Rockingham is being up in the tower and watching Brandon Snider run Pro Extreme back in the day,” Peterson

says.“ He tunes for Jim Whiteley, and after I started prepping at a MWDRS race, he came up to me on the starting line and said,‘ Man, I’ m so glad to see you here.’ I was like,‘ Wow. I used to get excited seeing you at the racetrack and now here you are excited to see me.’ It was kind of a full-circle moment.”

Peterson’ s grandfather, Steve Earwood, is one of the most respected figures in track management and has played a crucial role in his growth over the years. He has passed down not only his knowledge, but also his perfectionist mentality.“ I’ m not happy until everyone is going down the racetrack and it’ s all going smoothly,” he says.

Peterson admits that even with all the advice from his family members over the years, track prep always faces countless variables including weather shifts, large car counts, and inconsistent surfaces that can always throw a wrench into things.

“ Being on the road has definitely helped me,”

Peterson says.“ At my track, I know exactly what I need to do to go fast. But I’ ll get to another track, and it’ s not even close to the same. My job is to make it consistent.”

That consistency, he explains, is the key to earning racers’ trust and ensuring events run smoothly. He has also recently expanded his role beyond track prep. In the past year, Peterson promoted two of his own events at U. S. 131 Motorsports Park and he’ s planning to double or even triple that number next year.“ I’ m probably going to do four-to-six events this coming year, scaled up from this past year,” he adds.

While his focus is primarily on track operations, Peterson still has the itch to get behind the wheel and drive himself.“ I’ ve always wanted to work in racing, but now I’ m kind of regretting that because I’ ve really been wanting to drive lately,” Peterson admits with a laugh.

He has driven a variety of race cars already, including a turbo Mustang on 275s, a dragster, and even the well-known Volvo wagon from Drag Week. Most recently, he made his Nostalgia A / Fuel debut in a front-engine nitro car at the Northern Nationals.“ It went 7.14 to the quarter and I lifted at about 700 feet,” he says.“ Hopefully within a year or two, I’ ll get to make another hit in a blown nostalgia Top Fuel car.”

Peterson believes his driving experience has made him a better track specialist. By understanding firsthand what drivers need from a racing surface, he can fine-tune his approach to the day’ s track prep. His time spent crewing for Joel Wensley during the 2024 Drag Illustrated Winter Series also deepened his understanding of how different classes and car combinations react to varying racing surface conditions.

Away from the racetrack, Peterson balances his professional life with his growing family. He and his wife, Bailey, are raising two daughters, Laiken and Claire, and while his racing schedule keeps him busy, he enjoys the time he gets at their recently purchased home.

With his family’ s unwavering support and a career that continues to accelerate, Peterson remains grateful for the journey he’ s on. From his earliest days spectating from the tower at his grandpa’ s racetrack to managing and prepping major events, his love for the sport has never faded.“ I literally grew up around drag racing my whole life,” he says.“ I don’ t know how to do anything else.”

– MADELYN MARCONI DI

PHOTO: KYLE CHRIST