John Ostermann Racing Column - 4/4/05

I remember it was my senior year. We were playing Ishpeming. The legendary coach, Don Hill, was going over our game plan before we played Ishpeming in our last home game. Ishpeming had a young coach (Tom Izzo) and that seemed to bring out the best in Coach Hill. He looked right at me and said “John, when you run out of that looker room door, you are going to hear the fans cheer, the pep band playing, and basketball is going to seem like the most important thing in the world.” He also said, “basketball will never be the same after tonight, all of that will be gone.” I was thinking in the back of my mind, that wasn’t true, and I was right. Maybe I can’t remember high school basketball, but I can tell you right now I have had some of the best basketball times of my life at the Hermansville Gold medal basketball tournaments. I played this year for the twenty-eighth year and I have seen many changes, mostly in the players that I’m playing against and the fans that are or aren’t in attendance. One thing that never changes is that it is always fun. The Hermansville tournament ends basketball season for me, but starts another season, STOCK CAR RACING.

The new president, Gene Adcock, and the board of directors have the schedule out for the upcoming racing season at Norway Speedway, and once again it should be an exciting summer. The season opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, with racing starting at 1:00 p.m. Napa Auto Parts will once again bring us Nascar legend, Dick Trickle, on June 10^th. The Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper challenge series will be held on June 3^rd, July 15^th, and August 26^th. The state line challenge will be August 5^th, with twin fifty lap features. There will be forty lap features, and a huge fireworks display on July 1^st. The kids are going to be excited this summer, as the new board has brought back the big wheel races and the nickel toss. These are just some of the fan favorite nights over the years. There is a full seventeen race schedule.

I am excited about this racing season, as there will not only be many new cars and drivers, but I am looking forward to seeing some of our younger drivers in all the divisions breaking out to challenge our veterans. Defending champion, Kris Kelly, will be back to look for his third straight Pepsi late model title. Kelly should receive a strong challenge from last years eight race winner and former champion, Jaime Iverson, who plans on running a second car full time at Norway Speedway. Jaime is also a top contender at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Other young drivers that could step up include, Adam Menor, son of multi-champion, Bob Menor, Scott Stanchina, who came on strong at the end of last year, and Kewaunee, Wisconsin’s, Eugene Gregorich. Norway’s, Brent Timblin, could also be a dark horse.

In the Auto Value Super Stock division, defending champion, Ryan Windell, should receive a stiff challenge from Michael Bubloni, as he will be driving a brand new car he built this past winter. Other drivers that could challenge include Steve Sorenson, Tom Neeley, Brent Swanson, Tim Schultz, John Komp, Greg and Nick Anderson, from Menominee, and Matt Parkansky, of Wausaukee.

In the Slammer division, it will be very difficult to beat defending champion, Travis Reidell. Travis dominated last year, but should get strong challenges from Jim Stachowicz, Mike Stanchina, Neil Varda, and John Mattia, Jr.

In the Fab Four division, Escanaba’s, Gary Dubord, Jr. will be back to defend his crown. Fab Four standouts, Tom Mott, Jaime and Jesse Hedlund, Brett Bray, and Joey and his brother, Dan Pontbriand could all make strong runs at the championship.

Norway Speedway

Dickinson County Racing Association

Each weekly show features…

Pepsi Late Models, Auto Value Super Socks, Wally’s Auto Slammers and Fab-4s.

Fridays:

Gates open 5:00 p.m.; time trials 6:15 - racing starts at 7:30.

Sat 5/15/05 Practice - Details to Follow

Sat 5/21/05 Opening Day - Gates open 8am - Racing starts 1pm

Fri 5/27/05 Regular Event

Fri 6/3/05 Auto Value Round 1 - $1,000 to win for Late Models - $500 to win for Street Stocks

Fri 6/10/05 Norway Welcomes back Racing Legend Dick Trickle - 50 lap feature

Sat 6/11/05 Rain date for Dick Trickle

Fri 6/17/05 Regular Event

Fri 6/24/05 Regular Event

Fri 7/1/05 Firecracker Twin 40 lap Feature - field inverted after first 40 - Fireworks

Fri 7/8/05 Regular Event

Fri 7/15/05 Round 2 Auto Value - $1,000 to win for Late Models - $500 to win for Street Stocks

Fri 7/22/05 Regular Event

Sat 7/30/05 *Saturday* Regular Event

Fri 8/5/05 Stateline Challenge - $2,000 to win - Twin 50 lap races field inverted after first 50

Fri 8/12/05 Fan Appreciation Night - Live Music

Fri 8/19/05 Nickel Toss $500 - Details to Follow

Fri 8/26/05 Auto Value Round 3 - $1,000 to win for Late Models - $500 to win for Street Stocks

Sat 9/3/05 Championship Night - Dickinson County Fair - All Divisions