Well-Known Escanaba Racer Peterson Dead At 54

ESCANABA---The Upper Peninsula racing community is in shock today after the sudden death of Dale Peterson. Peterson won his late model dirt car race Saturday night at the Upper Peninsula International Raceway, but died Sunday morning. 

 

"Dale was one of a kind," the president of the U-P-I-R, Pat Richer, told the Radio Results Network on Monday. "He was a very nice guy. Always happy. Always willing to help other racers. Always made sure that his car was there to make sure that we always had a good show for the fans."

 

He was involved in racing for 35 years in the community, both in Escanaba and at Norway Speedway. He was a track champion in Norway back in 1997, and was a track champion in Escanaba last year.

 

Richer says it wasn't only his track success that made him special.

 

"Everyone looked up to him," Richer said. "Everyone always asked him for advice. With him leaving us, there's going to be an empty spot here at the race track for a long time. We're sure gonna miss him. We're sure gonna miss his smile and him always being here for us."

 

Richer added that Peterson touched many lives, from the veteran drivers all the way down to the newcomers.

 

"It's going to be a big hit for everybody," Richer said. "We're all still trying to realize that it really did happen. We're still in shock. We just saw him Saturday and he was smiling, happy, and had a good time. I talked to him before and after the race. He's going to be missed."

 

Visitation for Peterson is scheduled for this Friday, between 1:00 and 4:00, at the Stonington Hall. Services will follow. Dale Peterson was 54 years old.