Family racing tradition going strong for Pavliceks

If you have followed racing in the Red River Valley over the past 50-plus years, you know the last name Pavlicek.

The Pavlicek racing tradition started in 1973 when Steve “Duffer” Pavlicek hopped behind the wheel of his first race car. He had a successful career that culminated in being elected into the Red River Valley Racing Hall of Fame in 2026.

The family racing legacy is carried on by Steve’s son, Rich, who is in his 23rd year behind the wheel and Rich’s son Jayden, who is in his fifth year of racing in the IMCA Sport Mod class against his dad.

Steve Pavlicek, at age 76, is still at the track and in the shop helping his son and grandson.

“Pretty much anything that breaks, he knows exactly how to fix it,” Jayden said.

In an interview with RaceChaser blog in 2021, Duffer said his first night of racing on the day Rich was born in 1973.

“The day he was born, I started,” Steve said in 2021.

“My dad’s been No. 1,” Rich said. “He was one of the fastest out there at the time. We traveled all over. It’s been a family thing since I’ve been a little kid.”

In fact Steve and Rich raced against each other in 2014 at Norman County Raceway in the B mods. Rich won the points that year while Steve finished third.

Now, it’s Rich and Jayden who race against each other at Fix It Forward Speedway, Norman County Raceway and Buffalo River Speedway in the valley.

Rich has been a top runner in the IMCA Sport Mods for several years, winning seven track championships locally since 2020.  Including his time in the A mods, Rich has earned more than 50 feature wins since the 2016 season.

“it’s fun. He’s always up front,” Jayden said. “You know that if you’re next to him, you’re probably up front.”

Jayden is off to a successful start in his racing career. He started in the sport mods at age 15 and in his second year won his first feature race at Buffalo River Speedway.  “It was nice to get it out of the way and know that the first one is done,” Jayden said.

Jayden has 16 feature wins and the 2025 Buffalo River Speedway track championship, and last season, qualified for the A main at the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone.

“We did a lot of test and tunes,” Rich said. “I try to get him to as many tracks as we can because that really helps out. You have to learn how to adapt to different track conditions…I try not to tell him how to drive. He’s learning a lot on his own.”

The father and son have been some mechanical woes to battle through but when they’ve finished, have been contenders again – Rich has four wins and Jayden has three. Between them, they have 23 top five finishes.

“We’ve got seven wins, we’ve been doing pretty good,” Rich said.

“The last three weeks is when the season has started,” Jayden said. “I have broken so many things this year; just very, very bad luck. This past three weeks we’ve got the car pretty good.”

Jayden’s goal for the rest of the season is to win at one of the invitationals held in September and October. Last year he finished second at the Jamestown Stampede.

“I’m hoping to get a big special win. That’s my goal this year,” Jayden said.

Rich is hinting that the 2026 campaign might be his last behind the wheel.

“I love (racing against him), but I said I’d quit if he beat me, and he beat me (at NCR),” Rich said. “Now I can quit. He was fast.”

For Rich Pavlicek, racing has been more about the action on the track. “The camaraderie and the friendships we have,” Rich said. “I love going to different tracks.”

Jayden Pavlicek, a third-generation racer, has the benefit of having his dad and father mentoring his racing career.

“They’ve helped me in any which way they can,” Jayden said. “How to drive the tracks, how to do the set-ups. It’s a huge influence having them around.”

Driver profiles:

Rich Pavlicek

IMCA Sport Mod #17

Age: 53

Jayden Pavlicek

IMCA Sport Mod #74

Age: 19

Residence: Casselton, N.D.

Sponsors: Sanders Metal Products (Todd, Debbie, and Morgan), Midwest Ironworks, Brenco, Fargo Tire, Prien Concrete, Swift Springs, Steve Link Auction and Realty, Haggie’s Bar and Grill, Luck for Kids, Shamrock Charity, Skyrocket Chassis, Awesome Motorsports and Shock Service, Shayne Laske Fabrication, The Bookclub, Andy’s Auto, Mom, Dad, Duffer, Aspyn, Brady, Bryer, Grady, Kaylee