SPOKANE — Jennifer Peterson won the Powder Puff 2025 Season Championship at Qlispe Raceway.
The 33-year-old mom wrote in an email that, “I drive my husband’s (Philip) yellow 2004 Pontiac GTO that was initially intended for him,” she indicated with a laugh.
“This race season has been absolutely incredible and one for the books,” she wrote offering kudos to Quispe’s team. “Track prep this year was incredible.”
The fact that the last race was effectively rained out and they still made it happen says a lot, she noted.
“They persevered, they were relentless, went above and beyond, everyone pulled together to get the track dry, worked together and we were able to finish the race.”
It was such an inspiration and the ultimate definition of team work. Not to mention the fact they put on a double race that day. It was amazing.
Peterson mentions the race for good reason.
“That last race I went in with legitimately eight points ahead. I won runner up against Kari (Kannady) and she actually took on points lead which would’ve been race #9!
“Next race #9 I got insanely lucky and won runner up against someone who hadn’t raced for points this year and Kari had gone out the round just before me,” Peterson said.
Anxiously awaiting the points results, Peterson took the lead and won the championship by those same eight points.
There’s another bit of irony for Peterson with this championship.
The best part about the championship is it all had a connection to her late father, Robert (Bob) Pratt, who raced with the car number, 333 and her points total for the season — 333. “Can you even imagine that?” Peterson said.
Peterson has been racing off and on since 2016, her first race paid for by her brother as a birthday present.
“Thanks to my husband and kiddo (Isabella), some wonderful family, incredible race family that believed in me and never gave up on me,” Peterson said of yet another important element in her run to the championship.
Her husband not only the “babysitting,” but “He let me drive his car right after he got it,” even though he planned another build and initially bought a different car for her.
He tuned the car even after working all day, spent late nights making sure she would be happy and that quirks were being worked out for Peterson, who described herself as “A pain in the butt, like literally a gigantic one,” she said.
Other people that Peterson said were also instrumental in her success were the Weaver family. “Angie and Randy dang near dedicate their lives to the track.”
Jennen Motorsports has also previously sponsored Peterson and is a huge part of their race family. Peterson also acknowledges Jenifer Jennings who started the Powder Puff class.
Away from the racetrack, Peterson can be found daily at the reception desk of Reamer Family Dentistry in Spokane Valley. And when off the clock at work, “In the spring and summer you can find me near the water or the racetrack. Both are my happy places,” Peterson said.
So is cruising on the weekend with her husband.