Mondeik fights off Butz, Stanchina to cop Norway opener

Gleason, Wis., driver 6-for-6 on paved oval

NORWAY -- Justin Mondeik may have led all 35 laps from the pole position in Norway Speedway's season opening Coca-Cola late model feature Friday night.

However, the race was anything but a gimme for the Gleason, Wis., driver. Mondeik survived pressure early in the race from Kingsford's Scott Stanchina and fought off a stiff late race charge from Green Bay's Chad Butz to score the victory.

With the win, Mondeik kept his perfect winning percentage at the third-mile, paved oval. In 2020 Mondeik won all five nights he towed to the Upper Michigan oval to compete

Mondeik began sifting through lapped cars by lap 12 with Stanchina hot on his heels. A lap 13 caution bunched up the field and Butz mounted his mid-race charge to third by lap 16. The trio of Mondeik, Stanchina and Butz pulled away from the field and ran nose-to-tail for the next several circuits when Butz squeezed past Stanchina for the runner-up spot with 10 laps remaining. Butz kept the heat on Mondeik but came up just shy at the checkers.

Butz held on for second, with Stanchina, Gregg Haese and Tanner Kelly placing third through fifth, respectively.

Norway's Joey Pontbriand, who pulled double duty racing in both the late model and super stock divisions, sweated out a few caution periods and skillfully weaved his way through lapped cars to capture the Auto Value super stock feature.

Defending division track champion Ryan Wender of Upper Pine Creek was able to stay within striking distance of Pontbriand but the Norway driver hung and scored the "W." Wender settled for second place money, followed by Anthony Scheifelbein, Tim Schultz and Bob Scheifelbein.

Freedom, Wis.'s Kasey Vander Loop passed his brother Cody Vander Loop on the final lap when Cody's machine slowed. Kasey Vander Loop hung on to score the 20 lap Ken's Sports sport truck win.

Other feature winners on the night included Menominee's Travis Hulsizer in 141 Auto Stock Car and Faithorn's Trevor Cronick in the MC Signs & Graphics 4 Bangers.

On Friday, spectator eliminator races will be added to the card along with a UTV exhibition race. Racing gets underway at 7 p.m.

For more, go to norwayspeedway.com or email ostermannjohn@hotmail.com.

BINK'S COCA COLA SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE - Justin Mondeik, Gleason, WI; Chad Butz, Green Bay, WI; Scott Stanchina, Kingsford; Gregg Haese, Francis Creek, WI; Tanner Kelly, Waucedah; Mike Reichenberger, Appleton, WI; Jason Wells, Kingsford; Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain; Tom Gee, Sobieski, WI; Dean Varda, Vulcan; Bruce White, Kingsford; Charlie Bell, Skandia; Dick Coleman, Menominee; Joey Pontbriand, Norway; Robert Younger, De Pere, WI: Kevin Beyer, Menominee; Wyatt Spade, Norway; Scott Bolster, Marquette; Robby Iverson, Hyde; Will Timmers, Kaukauna, WI; Mike Lantagne, Vulcan (DNS)

HEATS 1) Bell; Varda 2) Mondeik; Beyer 3) Stanchina, Iverson

DASH – Haese

FAST TIME - Gee, 14.234

AUTO VALUE SUPER STOCK FEATURE - Pontbriand; Ryan Wender, Upper Pine Creek; Anthony Scheifelbein, Pembine, WI; Tim Schultz, Vulcan; Bob Scheifelbein, Pembine; WI; Al Bilski, Norway; Adam Faull, Vulcan; Jeremy Yelle, Sands; Kevin Peterson, Marinette, WI; Kelly LaCount, Athelstane, WI; John Mattia Jr, Norway; Gary Thom, Aurora; Jordan Massicotte, Kingsford; Tony Wender, Kingsford; Andy Gerwig, Norway; Destiny Bullard, Marquette (DNS)

HEATS 1) Bob Schiefelbein; Massicotte 2) Schultz; LaCount

DASH -Gerwig

FAST TIME - Faull, 16.275

141 AUTO SALES SPORTSMAN FEATURE - Travis Hulsizer, Menominee; B.J. Schoneck, Marion, WI; Paul Bourgeois, Iron Mountain; Bobby Lewis, Bark River; Trevor Pankratz, Little Suamico, WI

HEAT – Nick Kroehler, Appleton, WI; Pankratz

FAST TIME - Preston Weddel, Crivitz, WI 18.478

Ken's Sports sport truck feature - Kasey Vander Loop, Freedom, WI; Brad Barglind, Kingsford; Andrew Secrist, Florence, WI; Brent Barglind, Kingsford; Tanner Fickel, Neenah, WI

HEATS 1) Brent Barglind; Beth Craig, Appleton 2) Cody Vander Loop, Freedom; Kasey Vander Loop

FAST TIME - Brad Barglind, 16.946

MC SIGNS & GRAPHICS 4 BANGER FEATURE - Trevor Cronick, Faithorn; Dean Bellmore, Hermansville; Mike Loberger, Marinette, WI; Alex Bellmore, Hermansville; Riley Johnson, Vulcan

HEATS 1) Mike Loberger; Garett Goetsch, Oconto 2) Elliot Reid, Faithorn; Cory Grondine, Hermansville

FAST TIME - Alex Bellmore, 18.858