News & information
Joe Verdegan - 6/29/2022
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDEIK EYES TOUGH THREE-PEAT OF STATELINE CHALLENGE AT
NORWAY SPEEDWAY JULY 1 (38TH ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASES NASCAR CHAMP JOHNNY SAUTER AND OTHER SHORT TRACK STARS) (Norway, MI June 29 – Justin Mondeik knows full well he’ll have his hands full during the 38th annual Island Resort & Casino Stateline Challenge/Kent Pearson Memorial presented by Aurora Liquors at Norway (MI) Speedway Friday, July 1. The Gleason, Wisconsin driver, who’s won three out of four Coca Cola late model features already this year at the third-mile, paved oval in 2022, has won the prestigious event the past two seasons. But with a stout field of challengers expected, including former race winner and NASCAR truck champion Johnny Sauter expected, Mondeik admits winning the 100-lap feature for a third straight year would be anything but a cakewalk. “It will be very tough,” Mondeik confessed. “It is always tough to win big races at any track and that includes Norway.” Wisconsin racers have had the edge in recent years with Mondeik winning in ’20 and ’21 and a pair of Sauter’s capturing the big race in ’18 and ’19 when Johnny and Travis captured the win in those years, respectively. Prior to that Dalton Zehr, who resided in Menominee at the time, won the Stateline in ’17 with Vulcan’s Kris Kelly being the last Upper Peninsula native to score the Stateline win in ’16. Johnny Sauter will once again wheel the familiar Coleman Racing Products 119, with Neenah, Wisconsin’s Braison Bennett wheeling the other red 119. Bennett is the only other driver other than Mondeik to score a late model feature win at Norway in weekly competition in ’22. Other Wisconsin racers expected to be contenders during the Friday night show include 2021 Norway track champion Chad Butz of Green Bay, Manitowoc’s Gregg Haese, Appleton drivers Bryan Monday and Brandon Reichenberger, TUNDRA super late model series standout Darren Jackson of Wisconsin Rapids, Kaukauna’s Will “The Thrill” Timmers, Wausau’s Rayce Haase and Green Bay’s Louie Goss. Leading the charge from the Michigan side of the border are a pair of stout weekly regulars from Kingsford – Jason Wells and Scott Stanchina. In addition, former track champion Dan Lindsley is looking to keep the winner’s trophy in state as he’ll have his number 79 machine on hand. Others include Kingsford native Bruce White, third-generation racer Robby Iverson of Escanaba, Iron Mountain’s Cory Cootware, Waucedah’s Tanner Kelly, Vulcan’s Adam Faull and Dean Varda, Norway’s Joey Pontbriand, John Ostermann and Wyatt Spade, Marquette’s Scott Bolster, Big Bay rookie Parker Cain and Menominee native Derek Gagne. The list of former winners of Norway Speedway’s Stateline Challenge reads like a “who’s who” of short track racers in the Midwest. The first ever race was in 1981 and was won by short track legend Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. A 100-lap super late model feature is on tap. The event is presented by Island Resort Casino and Aurora Liquors. The race also serves as the Kent Pearson Memorial. Pearson was a two-time winner of this event. The pit gates open at 10 a.m. Qualifying begins at 5:30 p.m. Racing gets underway at 7 p.m. Please check our website norwayspeedway.com and also our page on Facebook for further information or email ostermannjohn@hotmail.com.
Norway Speedway Stateline Challenge Winners
2021 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, WI
2020 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, WI
2019 – Travis Sauter Prairie Du Sac, WI
2018- Johnny Sauter, Necedah, WI
2017-Dalton Zehr, Menominee, Mi
2016- Kris Kelly, Norway, Mi
2015- Dalton Zehr, Menominee, Mi
2014- (Tundra Race)
2013- Dillon Kralovetz, Bonduel, WI
2012- Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI
2011- Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI
2010- No Race
2009- No Race
2008- No Race
2007- Mike Reichenberger, Appleton, WI
2006- Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI
2005- Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI
2004- Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI
2003- Terry Baldry, Omro, WI
2002- Dale Peterson, Escanaba, MI
2001- Mark Schroeder, Green Bay, WI
2000- Wayne Breitenfeldt, Wausau, WI
1999- Mark Schroeder, Green Bay, WI
1998- Dale Peterson, Bark River, MI
1997- Terry Baldry, Omro, WI
1996- Kevin Cywinski, Mosinee, WI
1995- Kevin Cywinski, Mosinee, WI
1994- Kevin Cywinski, Mosinee, WI
1993- Matt Kenseth, Cambridge, WI
1992- Bob Menor, Wausaukee, WI
1991- Bob Menor, Wausaukee, WI
1990- Terry Baldry, Omro, WI
1989- Allen Check, Stevens Point, WI
1988- Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
1987- Scott Hansen, Green Bay, WI
1986- Scott Hansen, Green Bay, WI
1985- Mike Mattson, Marquette, MI
1984- Mike Kelly, Norway, MI
1983- Kent Pearson, Kingsford, MI
1982- Kent Pearson, Kingsford, MI
1981- Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
John Ostermann - 6/27/2022
Iron Mountain Daily News: Checkers or Wreckers
This Friday night July 1st at Norway Speedway will be the running of the 38th Annual Kent Pearson Memorial Stateline Challenge. This is one of the elite races in the Midwest that challenges Michigan’s best Late Model short track racers against Wisconsin’s best short track racers. Over the years the races attracted some of the best late model stock car drivers in the country including NASCAR’s Dick Trickle, Matt Kenseth and most recently Johnny Sauter. Johnny Sauter of Necedah, Wisconsin has raced at every level in NASCAR was the 2016 & 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. Also, the 2017 Oktoberfest winner, and 2001 ASA (American Speed Association) National Tour Champion. Sauter will be driving a car owned by Coleman Racing Products of Menominee, MI. Other notable entries include: Former Norway Speedway Champion Dan Lindsley of Vulcan MI, WIR(Wisconsin International Raceway) Champion Andy Monday of Appleton, WI , Appleton’s Louis Goss that had a short stint in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, Marshfield Super Speedway’s former Track Champion Darren Jackson, Justin Mondeik of Gleason, WI who has won 3 features at Norway Speedway this year, 2021 Track Champion Chad Butz of Howard, WI, Neenah’s Braison Bennett who is currently one of the hottest racers and is coming off a feature win at Norway Speedway & Wisconsin International Raceway, and Brandon Reichenberger of Appleton, Wi whose father Mike is a Norway Speedway Champion and former Stateline Challenge Winner. Capable local drivers looking for their first Kent Pearson Memorial Stateline Challenge win include: Kingsford’s Jason Wells who is 2nd in Championship points, also from Kingsford Scott Stanchina who is 4th in Championship points, Spread Eagle’s Bruce White will also be competing in his 38th Stateline Challenge. Dark horse drivers that have shown promise include: Will Timmers of Kaukauna, WI, Cory Cootware of Kingsford, MI, and Greg Haese of Manitowoc, WI, 2021 Super Stock Champion Joey Pontbriand of Norway, MI and Robby Iverson of Hyde, MI. This is the current list. More drivers will be signing up between now and Friday. Norway Speedway is located on US-8 in Norway, MI and will have the area’s first fireworks display of the holiday weekend. The gates open at 5:00 pm, concessions will be available, carry-ins are allowed, Adult Tickets are $14, Seniors & Students are $10, Family Pass (2 adults & 2 students) $30, Active Military & Children under 6 are Free. For more information go to: www.norwayspeedway.com & www.facebook.com/norwayspeedway . See you at the track!