Friday night brought another big money race for the Bink’s Coca-Cola Late Models at Norway Speedway, this time sponsored by Werner Electric. Following heat races, a nickel toss sponsored by U.P. State Credit Union was held for kids on the front stretch.
MC Signs & Graphics Four Bangers
The first feature race of the night was a 20 lap special for the MC Signs and Graphics Four Bangers. As part of the special, out of car drivers introductions were held on the front straightaway before the engines were fired.
More than 20 cars took the green flag in the feature race, ensuring there would be heavy traffic, lots of action, and some great racing. Oddly enough, the packed feature only saw three yellow flags fly in its running. The first was a multi car stack up on lap one, while spins would bring out the other two.
Up front, the battle for the lead was hot. A three car group made up of Trever Cronick, Zach Gazda, and Dean Bellmore separated themselves from the rest of the pack to battle for the race win amongst themselves. The final of the three caution flags, though, would fly with four laps remaining, allowing everyone to bunch back up and challenge the trio for the win.
When the race restarted, it was much the same story as before as Cronick, Gazda, and Cronick slotted back in to the top three spots, where they would finish only a handful of laps later with Cronick just a nose ahead of Gazda at the line.
Trever Cronick grabbed the win with Zach Gazda and Dean Bellmore behind in second and third. It was Cronick’s first appearance at Norway Speedway this year, though he was among many first timers at the speedway Friday night as the Four Banger drivers prepare for the upcoming enduro race.
Auto Value Super Stocks
While the Four Bangers had three cautions in their entire 20 lap feature, the Auto Value Super Stocks would have three in a row to start the race, including a wild ride and big hit into the turn one guardrail for Andy Gerwig. (Pictured Below)
On the third lap, Gerwig and Savanna Novara made contact at the entrance to the first turn. Gerwig’s left front tire climbed up and over Novara’s right rear, sending the nose of Gerwig’s car sky bound. The car slammed back to the track and went in through the dirt run off and in to the guardrail head on, only slowing slightly before making heavy contact. Gerwig was uninjured in the accident.
Following the Gerwig crash, two yellows flew in quick succession, one of which saw the rear of Adam Faull’s car ripped open. Faull continued racing, however, despite the heavy cosmetic damage. Race officials made the call to restart single file following the third yellow. From there on, it was smooth sailing to the checkered flag.
Tim Schultz would take the race win after passing John Mattia Jr. for the lead in the race’s middle stages. Mattia Jr., finished in second with Anthony Schiefelbein in third. Adam Faull, fuel cell visible and all, recovered to finish in the fourth spot.
Bink’s Coca-Cola Late Models
A 50 lap feature with a 1,000 dollar purse, presented by Werner Electric, was in store for the Bink’s Coca-Cola Late Models.
The race’s early leader was Dean Varda, who started on the pole position. While Varda led, a back and forth battle between Robby Iverson and Jason Wells developed for the second position. Both Iverson and Wells had worked their way to the second and third positions from their seventh and ninth place starting positions, respectively. Going into turn one around 15 laps into the feature, Wells made a move to the inside of Iverson, making slight contact while he grabbed the second position. A couple of laps later, Iverson would try sneaking under Wells in turn two but would spin out in the process. Iverson tapped out, taking blame for the incident, and restarted at the back of the pack.
A restart with 15 laps to go put Dean Varda in a vulnerable position as the night’s two fastest qualifiers, Dan Lindsley and Scott Stanchina, lined up right behind him. When the green flew, Lindsley was able to slide down in front of Stanchina, putting him directly behind Varda. Doing all he could to keep the quick time driver behind him, Varda blocked hard trying to keep the lead. His blocking would cost him, though, as he spun in turn three off the nose of Lindsley. Race officials black flagged Varda for his aggressive blocking following the incident.
One more caution flew before the end of the race, setting up a sprint to the end with Dan Lindsley in the lead and Dillon Kralovetz in second. Although it appeared Kralovetz had a faster car in the closing laps, he was unable to make a pass on Lindsley before the race concluded.
Dan Lindsley took the checkered flag, adding yet another feature win to his list of wins this year. Dillon Kralovetz came up just short in second place while Scott Stanchina lassoed another top three finish in his 2019 campaign.
Ken’s Sports Wisconsin Sport Trucks
Only one caution flag would fly in the Ken’s Sports Wisconsin Sport Truck feature race. While the race was somewhat uneventful on the incident front, several battles spiced things up throughout the race.
One of several battles to take place in the race was a good, clean, side by side fight for the third spot between Destiny Bullard and Drew Habeck. The two drivers raced door to door through the turns for a number of laps before Habeck was able to take the spot.
Up front, however, it was Cody Vanderloop in control of things while Brad Barglind tried to chase him down from second. As the lap counter ticked down, it looked like lapped traffic was going to play a role in deciding the race winner. However, all of the lapped drivers respectfully gave way to the lead cars, not interfering at all in the race for the win.
In the end, it was Cody Vanderloop victorious with Brad Barglind in the runner up spot. Third place went to Drew Habeck.
141 Auto Sales Stock Cars
The craziest finish of the night belonged to the final race of the night in the 141 Auto Sales Stock Car division. Remember, in this division drivers are restricted by lap time as they must remain above the 18 second mark. If a driver turns a lap time under 18 seconds, they will be black flagged and have to drop to the rear of the field. Their second violation is the end of their race.
A late race yellow set up a three lap shootout to decide the race winner. Up until this point, few drivers, if any, had an issue with breaking out of the 18 second restriction. As the white flag flew, the top three drivers of Gary Thom, Anthony Schiefelbein, and Kaitlyn Schettler began pushing hard for the win, all trying to go faster than the others without breaking out.
When the checkered flag flew it was Thom, Schiefelbein, and Schettler across the line in the top three spots. The only problem for them, though, was that all three ran lap times under 18 seconds. This handed the race win to B.J. Schoneck, and moved Michelle Janzewski up to second and Todd Schmidt into third.
Norway Speedway is again in action this Friday night for a packed night of racing. The green flag drops at 7 p.m. CST, with qualifying preceding at 5:30 p.m. CST.
By Todd Rose