NORWAY SPEEDWAY READIES FOR MAY 9TH SEASON OPENER

NORWAY, MI - John Ostermann has been through it before. Now in his third season at the helm of the Dickinson County Racing Association Ostermann is
readying the Norway Speedway for 2003 but he never seems to get used to the job. The first year was a real mess, this year is just a mess, said Ostermann, a man on the move 23 hours per day. It's not really that bad. It's just that there are so many little things you have to take care of to be ready for the season opener. That opener, which is slated for Friday night, May 9th, at the 1/4-mile paved oval located on the grounds of the Dickinson County Fairgrounds, will see the return of the same four divisions that raced in 2002 - late models, super stocks, slammers, and Fab Four's.

It's been successful the last two years and I expect more of the same this year, Ostermann said. The schedule is actually a little bigger in 2003 than it was last season. We've got a couple extra shows in there which gives our guys a chance to race more. It's been said that you can't mess with success. I don't think you can just sit on it, though. You have to be ready to change and change if you think it's best. I guess it's tweaking more than anything else. During the 2002 season Norway Speedway averaged over 140 cars per show, a record for the track and for any facility in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While attendance leveled off when compared to 2001 the DCRA enjoyed one of its best seasons. This is a club run deal from top to bottom. Everyone involved is in it because they love racing and love to put on a show for the fans. I can't do it alone and will never take the credit. It's because we have a ton of people in the UP and Northern Wisconsin that care about racing at Norway.
That's success, Ostermann said.

On track activities take place nearly every Friday night during the summer months with a sprinkling of Saturday’s mixed in. Qualifying is set for 6:15 pm on Fridays with the first green flag at 7:30 pm. Special events have slightly altered times which are announced in advance. Jamie Iverson and Jeff Boettcher are the defending late model and super stock track champions, respectively. Both are expected back in 2003 along with an expanded field in every division. I think we will have more guys on a regular basis this year than we had last, Ostermann said. It'ss really been going good with registrations and numbers. You really don't know what to expect until the day of the race but I have a good feeling that by June the numbers will be bigger than last year.

The 2003 season will include a visit by the Midwest AllStar Racing Series in June, the return of the Auto Value Meet The Challenge Series, and also the traditional Stateline Challenge. All events will feature extended features in both the late model and super stock classes. New for 2003 will be three days of racing during the Dickinson County Fair, which wraps around Labor Day Weekend and a special July 5th program which will also feature fireworks.Most of it is in place now, Ostermann said of the schedule. There may be a few sponsorship changes and adjustments but the base is there. I can't wait for it to get going. The Norway Speedway is located on Highway 8 just outside of Norway, MI. For more information contact Ostermann at N22185 Hwy 141, Niagara, WI, 54151, or call (715) 251-4788.