The Carter family has piled on the miles, wins and countless memories over the years in racing.
Todd Carter, 58, of Lisbon has been racing 41 years and current races a Wissota Street Stock. He’s piled up the wins and track championships. He met his wife, Angie, at the track. His father-in-law, Jerry was part of the pit crew for many years and still comes to the track.
Todd and Angie’s son, Jarrett, 33, also of Lisbon, has been racing for about a dozen years; he now has an IMCA Modified and Wissota Midwest Modified and also has several wins and track championships himself.
“Racing is pretty much what we do; we don’t have a whole bunch of other hobbies,” Todd said. “Countless hours spent in the shop and at the track. It’s something we all enjoy doing together. Angie is our biggest supporter and sacrificed a lot over the years — hell I got married on a Saturday and raced on Sunday. Jarrett was just born into it!”
“I guess if I had to sum up the impact racing has had I could kind of do it with one word — lifestyle,” Jarrett said. “We all eat, sleep, and breath racing. We've skipped many of the standard ‘family’ things (weddings, reunions, birthdays) to go racing.”
The Carters work on their cars together and travel everywhere together. It’s true quality time.
Todd Carter’s career started more than four decades ago. He started in what was the called the fun class and has raced in many classes — hobby stock, outlaw street stock, Wissota Super Stock, Wissota Late Model, IMCA Modified, and now currently Wissota Street Stock.
“In order to race at home — this is definitely a fun class,” Todd said. “Especially here (in Lisbon). These things are a blast here.”
Jarrett started in the Hornet class, and then had success in the Wissota Midwest Modified division. He has raced an IMCA Modified in recent years and recently put together a Wissota Midwest Modified. He won a midwest modified feature at Sheyenne Speedway in June.
Todd has piled up the accomplishments in 41 years of racing — more than 300 career wins, 26 track championships (at several tracks, including Sheyenne, Red River Valley Speedway, River Cities Speedway, Devils Lake Speedway, Wishek, Brown County Speedway) and a multi-time winner of the Jamestown Stampede, among the highlights.
The 2001 season was the best of Todd’s career. He chased Wissota Super Stock national points that season and won 31 features that season. He finished third in the Wissota national points that year.
“That was in a home built car that me and Bruce Pfaff built,” Todd said. “Everywhere we went, we won with that thing.”
Jarrett has six track titles of his own to his accomplishments. He finished second in the midwest modifieds at the Wissota Western 100 one year and made the podium; but the wins in the IMCA Modified have stood out.
“Those are nice to get; they’re tough to get,” Jarrett said.
There was one year where Todd, Jarrett and Jonny Carter (Todd’s nephew and Jarrett’s cousin) all won the Wissota North Dakota state points titles as well.
So after decades of travel, and hours and hours in the shop working, racing is still fun for the Carter family.
“Winning is obviously the ultimate goal and most enjoyable, but there is definitely more to it than that,” Jarrett said. “The ‘grind’ is probably the best way to sum it up — driving, crewing, watching, the countless friends, etc..I think to do it as long as we have you truly have to enjoy the whole experience.”
“The thing I enjoy the most is the competition and still being able to give the kids a run for their money,” Todd said. “It’s a blast.”
Driver Profiles
Todd Carter
Wissota Street Stock #19
Age: 58
Residence: Lisbon, N.D.
Sponsors: Qual Dairy, Signature Design Home & Remodel, Mairs Crop Insurance, Clauson Farms, Lisbon Vision Center, ReMax Advantage/ Wes Well, Humps Bar and Grill, Wills Body Shop, Lisbon Main St. Farm and Home, Pfaff Plumbing and Heating, Extreme Graphix, Linda Lou Motorsports, Dirt Track Supply/ Arrow Chassis
Jarrett Carter
IMCA Modified and Wissota Midwest Modified #91
Age: 33
Residence: Lisbon, N.D.
Sponsors: Qual Dairy, Clauson Farms, ReMax Advantage/ Wes Well, Humps Bar and Grill, Lisbon Main St. Farm and Home, Linda Lou Motorsports, Extreme Graphix, Signature Design Home and Remodel, Jon Aberle, State Farm Insurance/ Tracey Urbach
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