Mother Nature fought a two front battle against the Norway Speedway Friday night, but that didn’t get in the way of some great, albeit brief, racing in the second round of Auto Value sponsored action.
First, it was the brutal heat with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s. Then it was thunder, lightning, and rain that would eventually end the night’s racing, but not before the Auto Value Super Stock and Late Model Features were run, with the Super Stock feature running to its conclusion while the Late Model feature was cut short by 17 laps.
Auto Value Super Stocks
In the 35 lap Auto Value Super Stock feature it would be Tim Schultz Jr. using patience to work his way through the field and to the race win. Th journey to victory lane was not an easy one for Schultz as several caution periods bunched the rest of the hungry Super Stock competitors up behind Schultz.
One of the night’s front runners, Danny Gracyalny, would have issues that brought his night to an end early. After winning his heat race, Gracyalny put on a strong showing in the early laps of the feature. Then, with no warning, his engine dynamited at the end of the back straightaway. Gracyalny spun in his own oil as cars behind him spun in the smoke and oil as well. Though several drivers spun, no one received major damage from the incident, aside from Gracyalny who went back to the pits with a broke engine.
Another yellow flag flew with five laps remaining, setting up a mad dash to the checkered flag. Even with the field breathing down his neck, Tim Schultz Jr. kept his cool in the heat and grabbed the feature win. Andy Gerwig and Anthony Shiefelbein followed behind in second and third. Throughout much of the race, the top three finishers put on quite the show for fans as they diced it up for the top spot.
Bink’s Coca-Cola Late Models
As dark clouds and showers loomed on the horizon, the Bink’s Coca-Cola Late Models wasted no time in getting their race underway immediately after the conclusion of the Auto Value Super Stock feature.
Despite a smattering of raindrops throughout, the first 23 laps of the 50 lap feature race ran caution free before being slowed for a spin by Matthew Charlebois in the second turn. Up until the caution, Bruce White held a commanding lead over the rest of the field. Another yellow flag would fly in short order for Robby Iverson spinning in turn three.
With several caution periods, White’s lead was diminished to nothing, and he would soon to lose the spot to Dan Lindsley. Moments after Lindsley grabbed the lead, the sky lit up with flashes of lightning. The field slowed and the next time by, the checkered flag flew for Dan Lindsley as storms closed in on the Norway Speedway. Brian Stanchina crossed the line in second with Dillon Kralovetz in third.
The night’s remaining feature races were promptly canceled, marking the second week in a row of rain putting a damper on racing at the Norway Speedway. Racing resumes next Friday with at 6:45 p.m. CST with a special appearance by the ever popular Vintage Modifieds.
By Todd Rose