NORWAY — This is becoming a pattern. I go down to Florida and spend some time at New Smyrna Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. Then, I come home and the weather starts getting nice, and the excitement and enthusiasm for stock car racing at Norway Speedway goes into high gear. This year was a little different however, when I was in Daytona, I attended the 51st Annual RPM Promoters Workshop.

This is a group of race track promoters that organize seminars across the United States that focus on improving the operation at race tracks across the country.

Here you will find the best race track promoters that want to share their ideas and insight on proper race track operations. I’ve been a part of the race track promoting team at Norway Speedway for almost 25 years. I didn’t really think there was a whole lot for me to learn, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I attended the workshop as a guest of one of the top race track promoters in the Midwest, Matt Rowe from Maribel, Wisconsin. Matt currently operates his Impact Survival Series (ISS) that will be at Norway Speedway again this summer on Aug. 24.

Matt was picked to speak at the workshop on the importance of the drivers meeting and the connection with the promoter and drivers. He did an amazing job!

I learned a lot but I was also reminded about some things that sometimes get overlooked. The No. 1 complaint by the average fan across the country is the condition of the bathroom facility, which Norway Speedway will be rectifying by hiring a full-time bathroom attendant in 2024.

I’m always amazed by the connection between America’s race, the Daytona 500 which is held at the Daytona International Speedway, the most legendary speedway in the world and Norway Speedway.

I think it’s surreal and unbelievable that Johnny Sauter jumped in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck and pretty much dominated the field of some of the country’s best race car drivers until he was collected into a crash. He led the most laps and won the first segment.

You will be able to see the same driver at Norway Speedway this summer once again driving a Coleman Racing Products Late Model. This year’s Stateline Challenge – NASCAR Night-Kent Pearson & Roy Allard Memorial Race – Sponsored by Aurora Liquors and Island Resort & Casino always kicks off the fireworks and the 4th of July week in our area.

Another correlation between Daytona International Speedway and Norway Speedway is going to be the exact same warning lights in each corner and on the flag stand that are used at Daytona will be used at Norway. Whelen Engineering who is No. 1 in the world for emergency lighting and warning equipment for Police, Fire, EMS, and DT professionals has agreed to assist Norway Speedway with the best, most reliable, and most powerful warning lights available.

This will be a great addition to our ongoing safety improvements for the Speedway. Our season opener is May 24 and we will be racing every week until Labor Day as usual. Something a little different this year is we are going to have a fall race similar to other speedways in our region that’s going to be held on Sept. 19 and will run until Sept. 21.

It’s going to be the Farewell to Summer 500, where fans will be able to see 500 laps of racing in eight different divisions and it’s going to focus on affordability for drivers, fans, and families. One of the things that happened to us on the off season was we were voted No. 2 in Entertainment in the People’s Choice Awards by The Daily News.

You already know what our goal is for this upcoming season. Before I close, I just want to congratulate the Norway High School athletic teams as I am a proud alumnus including girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, the competitive cheerleading team, and their coaches, as well as former Norway Speedway driver Joe Tinti that received Athletic Director of the Year. I will be writing weekly from now on. The season is coming up fast!