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Norway Speedway to honor six Hall of Fame inductees today

Norway Speedway Hall of Fame inductees, left to right: Peg Baciak, Elwood Anderson, Paula Pieropon, Ken Johnson, Duke Gardner and Joe Haferkorn. (Submitted Photos)

NORWAY — Norway Speedway’s fourth hall of fame induction ceremony will take place tonight.

The six inductees include longtime board member Peg Baciak of Vulcan, longtime sponsors Elwood Anderson of ERA Chevrolet and Paula Pieropon of the Thirsty Whale Bar and Grill, former Dickinson County Racing Association president and board member Ken Johnson and former racers Duke Gardiner and Joe Haferkorn.

In addition to the hall of fame inductions, the vintage modifieds will tour the track in a throwback to yesteryear, while local UTV drivers will put on a pair of exhibition races.

Coca Cola late models, Auto Value super stocks, 141 Auto sportsman and stock fours are also on the program.

Norway Speedway’s admission price is $10 for an adult ticket, with carry-ins allowed in the grandstand (no glass containers allowed).

Pit gates open at 3 p.m. Qualifying begins at 5:30 p.m. and racing gets underway at 7 p.m.

The inductees:

Peg Baciak — She got her first real taste of racing as a pit crew member in 1976. Baciak was a DCRA treasurer, secretary and board member until her retirement in 1983.

Elwood Anderson — He started sponsoring race cars in 1974. Since 1979, Anderson has fielded a tow truck and pace car at the track every Friday.

Paula Pieropon — She got started sponsoring activities at Norway Speedway back in June 1978. These activities included sponsoring drivers over the years to fan appreciation and the nickle toss events. Pieropon stated that she enjoyed racing the powder puff races, especially when she went up against Green Bay sportscaster and former Green Bay Packer center Larry McCarren.

Ken Johnson — He started working with the Hall of Famer Jim Peterson as a pit man and also did engine work. He also worked with Kevin Whaley and Joe Haferkorn.

Duke Gardner — He started his racing career in 1968 at Norway and Escanaba. He raced a modified for a year, then drove a late model. Gardner was the 1977 Norway champion in the Sportsman division.

Joe Haferkorn — He started his 20-year racing career at Norway Speedway in 1968, driving a ’57 Chevy in the Sportsman Class. Haferkorn raced a non-wing and winged modified along with a late model. He also has built 15 race cars and 90 percent of his motors were a Chevy. Over the years, Haferkorn has been a champion six times.

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