(Lia Olson photo) Niagara, Wis., driver Payton Linder holds the checkered flag after her Auto Value Super Stock win Friday at Norway Speedway.

Fans and competitors alike braved the cold blustery weather and witnessed a great night of racing on Friday at Norway Speedway, sponsored by AutoMoxie-Quinnesec.

Ironically it was the first night that a Norway Speedway race was live-streamed on www.norwayspeedway.tv and you could have watched it from the comfort of your living room. In the Coca-Cola Late Model division, Justin Mondeik of Gleason, Wis., took the first step in a Memorial Day weekend racing schedule where he won the feature at Norway on Friday night, finished third in the ARCA Midwest Tour race in Jefferson on Saturday night, won his feature event at Slinger Speedway on Sunday and finished second at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wis., on Monday.

Defending track champion Joey Pontbriand jumped out to an early lead and held off the hard-charging Mondeik for several laps until Mondeik made his signature pass on lap 18. Pontbriand did not go down without a fight as he battled back making attempts to pass Mondeik both on the inside and the outside for many laps until the evening’s late model fast qualifier Dan Lindsley (14.224) started in on the back bumper of Pontbriand.

The three drivers treated the fans to a great show for the season opener.

Rounding out the top five were Kingsford’s Scott Stanchina, and Kingsford’s Cory Cootware. They were followed by Spread Eagle’s Bruce White, Escanaba’s Joey Stankowicz, Kingsford’s Mike Lantagne, Florence’s Devon Wilcox and, in 10th, Marquette’s Abi Yelle. The fast dash winner was Vulcan’s Dan Lindsley and second was Kingsford’s Cory Cootware. The heat race winner was Niagara’s John Ostermann and Spread Eagle’s Bruce White took second.

In the Auto Value Super Stock division, Marinette’s Lukas Peterson jumped out to an early lead and looked to be on his way to his first feature win of the summer until Niagara’s Payton Linder showed up and started inching her way into the inside of Peterson’s car. Contact between the two on lap 19 resulted in a crash that forced Peterson to the pit area.

The 16-year-old Linder went on to her first Auto Value Super Stock feature win followed by rookie driver Andy Secrist from Florence and another rookie, Kingsford’s Zach Hanson. Felch’s Izayah Reed had the best finish in his career coming from the rear of the field to finish fourth. Marquette’s Jeremy Yelle was fifth, Marquette’s Jesse Hendrickson sixth, Upper Pine Creek’s Ryan Wender took seventh, Norway’s Tom Neeley was eighth, Norway’s Tim Schultz Jr. ninth, and rounding out the Top 10 was Norway’s Joe Ostermann.

In the fast dash, Florence’s Andy Secrist took first and Upper Pine Creek’s Ryan Wender was second. In the first heat race Marinette’s Lukas Peterson took first followed by Norway’s Joe Ostermann. In the second heat race Hanson took first and Hermansville’s Dean Bellmore was second.

Auto Value Super Stock standout Anthony Schiefelbein has taken his team to the 141 Auto Sportsman division as he is adding to his family and starting a personal business. His talent, however, was still seen by the fans as he put on a great side-by-side race with current point leader Travis Hulsizer of Menominee. The battle went on for 10 laps before Schiefelbein got his first win in the division. Rounding out the Top 5 were Kingsford’s Jon Maenpaa, BJ Schoneck of Marion, Wis., and Spread Eagle’s Todd Schmidt. They were followed by Green Bay’s Jeff Nooyen, Green Bay’s Nick Kroehler, Norway’s Cole Neely, Kingsford’s Justin Larson and Felch’s Reihannen Reed.

In the first heat Kingsford’s Justin Larson took first followed by Jon Maenpaa. The second heat had Green Bay’s Nick Kroehler taking first and Spread Eagle’s Todd Schmidt in second.

In the Whelen Fab 4 division, Norway’s Trevor Cronick took first, followed by Kingsford’s reigning champ Eli Whittkopf. Completing the top 5 were Hermansville’s Brent Ayotte, Norway’s Cody Gunville and Iron Mountain’s Chris Hallenbeck. They were followed by Quinnesec’s Ashlyn Van Den Heuvel, Norway’s Andy Street, Florence’s Bobby Nordell and Marinette’s Chase Nerat. In the heat race Hermanville’s Brent Ayotte got the win followed by Norway’s Trevor Cronick.

This week’s races will be brought to you by Rize U.P.

Coca-Cola Late Model driver and Alan Kulwicki finalist Levon Van Der Geest will be here racing against our locals.