Timber Products of Iron Mountain!! 8/19/22

8/16/2022

Press Release Iron Mountain Daily News

Checkers or Wreckers Racing Column
John Ostermann
It had all the makings of the most epic event at our Speedway in many years, 29 Coca-Cola Late Models, which is tops in our region as far as late model car counts for a weekly show. Almost 100 race cars in the pit area and another packed grandstand from our amazing fan base. Shockingly, this all happened in the month of August, when people are supposed to have football, hoodies, and hot chocolate on their minds. The reason for this huge event was a culmination of 3 racetracks Norway Speedway, Marquette, MI’s Sands Speedway and Wisconsin International Raceway all working together to bring the best drivers, race cars, and fans to Norway, MI. Add in the fact that it was Hall of Fame night, where we had a wonderful ceremony to honor and induct our Speedway legends. Then to top it off, to be racing in the honor of one of Upper Michigan’s outstanding racing talents & personality Allan Yelle, whose family was out in full force racing, and one of Wisconsin International Raceway’s talented & dedicated racer Jerry Schneider, whose wife Deb was in attendance. Then the Upper Michigan’s Triple Crown Championship Series. As you can see, this was the perfect storm of auto racing in Upper Michigan and then the actual rainstorm came. Many people think that the rain ruined the night, but I am glad that everyone got honored, everyone got to race a little bit, and all our fans and people involved know we are no match for mother nature. Before the rains came there were some exciting moments. It was great to see the racing team of Cory Cootware back in Victory Lane as he won the B Feature event. Cory won the Triple Crown Championship Series in 2016 and it was great to see him have a strong run. It was just unfortunate that his dad was not able to be there, as he is a great supporter of not only his son, but the speedway as well. Coming in 2nd was Marquette’s Darryl Britton, and Wisconsin International Raceway standout Bryan Monday went from the back to the front, was sent to the back and made his way to the front again to finish a strong 3rd and transferred to the A feature.
We got in the Auto Value Super Stock Feature, and it was a doozy. Once again, the team of Ryan Wender & Joey Pontbriand proved to be tough to beat. Ryan & Joey teamed up a few years back and Ryan did all or most of the driving and led to a Track Championship. Joey Pontbriand has won 8 Auto Value Super Stock Features in a row, which in unbelievable because the division is so competitive. This year, Joey has done most of the driving, as Ryan is working with his son Rocket and has also piloted the car to a feature win a few weeks back. The race had the fans standing on their feet on the last lap, as point leader Anthony Schiefelbein & Pontbriand were battling side by side and came upon lapped traffic. For a moment it looked like neither would finish after the contact, but both made it through, and it was a great show. Schiefelbein who looks to be on his way to his first Track Championship in the extremely competitive Auto Value Super Stock division, has only 2 more races to hang on to his 107-point lead over Menominee’s Kevin Peterson, who is also enjoying his best year. Norway’s Andy Gerwig is in 3rd 24 points away from 2nd. Andy who is having his best year ever, has come to a grinding halt as he had engine trouble Friday night. Hopefully he can get it repaired and finish out strong.
This week is Timber Products of Iron Mountain and the Fab 4 Frenzy 4-Cylinder Racing Showcase. There will also be Wisconsin Sport Trucks and Spectator Eliminators. Because all the Coca-Cola Late Models did not get to race Friday night, this week it will be a $1000 to win the feature race, which I am sure will entice many of the travelers we had last week to return. The Fab 4 Frenzy this week should be exciting and a great preliminary event to get ready for the upcoming Impact Survival Series special on August 27th. The ISS race is going to be a 300 lap enduro featuring many of our local stars as well as about 50 cars from out of state. Hopefully the weather cooperates, and I’ll see you this Friday night!

 Joe Verdegan - 8/12/2022

PONTBRIAND CLAIMS CAUTION-FILLED NORWAY SUPER STOCK MAIN – OTHER FEATURES RAINED OUT

(Norway, MI) August 12 – Hometown driver Joey Pontbriand survived a crash-filled event plagued with numerous yellows to emerge triumphant in the Auto Value Super Stock feature at Norway Speedway Friday night.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature claimed victory in the other classes as all of the other divisions feature races were washed out.

Earlier in the evening 2021 Coca Cola Late Model track champion Chad Butz of Green Bay, Wisconsin topped the 30 car field in qualifying with a lap of 14.262.

Four former Norway Speedway racers/DCRA board members and one current racer and former DCRA club president were ushered into the 2022 class of the Norway Speedway Hall of Fame. Those included Kingsford’s Bruce W6hite, Menominee’s Red Adair, Marquette’s Mike Mattson, Aurora, Wisconsin’s Ed Hedlund and Escanaba’s Dale Peterson.

Racing resumes next Friday night August 19 with the action getting underway at 7 p.m.

Please check our website norwayspeedway.com and our Facebook page for further information or email ostermannjohn@hotmail.com.

RACE SUMMARY

BINK’S COCA COLA SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE – RAINED OUT

SEMI-FEATURE – Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain; Darrell Britton, Marquette; Bryan Monday, Appleton, WI; Wayne Posselt, Appleton, WI; Wyatt Lemmers, Larsen, WI

HEATS – 1ST) Scott Bolster, Marquette; Posselt 2nd) Cootware; Mike Lantange, Vulcan 3rd) Parker Cain, Big Bay; Adam Faull, Vulcan

DASH – Braison Bennett, Neenah, WI

FAST TIME – Chad Butz, Green Bay, WI 14.262

AUTO VALUE SUPER STOCK FEATURE – Joey Pontbriand, Norway;  Anthony Schiefelbein, Pembine, WI; Todd Maki, Kinross; Lukas Peterson, Marinette, WI; Tony Wender, Upper Pine Creek

HEAT – Tim Schultz, Vulcan

DASH - Pontbriand

FAST TIME – Schiefelbein, 15.803

141 AUTO SALES STOCK CAR FEATURE – RAINED OUT

HEATS 1) Jon Maenpaa, Kingsford; Gary Thom, Aurora, WI 2) Nick Kroehler, Appleton, WI; B.J. Schoneck, Marion, WI

FAST TIME – Travis Hulsizer, Menominee 18.256

MC SIGNS & GRAPHICS 4 BANGER FEATURE – RAINED OUT

HEATS 1) Cory Grondine, Hermansville; Tyler Plunger, Hermansville 2) Elliot Reid, Faithorn; Brett Ayotte, Hermansville

FAST TIME – Dean Bellmore, 18.079

MOD 4 FEATURE – RAINED OUT

HEAT – Shawn Harry, Marquette; Ryan Proctor, Oxford

FAST TIME – Rowdy Nutt, Marquette 17.432

FUEL INJECTED MUSTANG FEATURE – RAINED OUT

HEAT – Victoria Hawley, Marquette; Cole Bagwell, Marquette

FAST TIME – Nathan Goodwin, Marquette 16.898