Auto Value Super Stock feature winner Zach Hanson of Kingsford is joined in Norway Speedway’s victory lane by fiancée Erica Whittkopf.

The 47th-annual Stateline Challenge attracted some of the best late model drivers of Upper Michigan and Wisconsin. The dynamic of the race that started with 18 cars changed dramatically on the opening lap as a crash on the back stretch took out three top competitors, including defending Norway Speedway champion and current point leader Joey Pontbriand.

Also knocked out were TJ Spierowksi, who was coming off a feature win at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna the night before, and Big Bay’s Parker Cain, who’s currently in 5th place in the Midwest Truck Tour Series.

Neenah’s Braison Bennett, driving a car owned by Coleman Racing Products, posted a blistering 14.356 in qualifying and went from the rear of the field to the front with former Norway Speedway champion Dan Lindsley chasing him and keeping the pressure on him for 76 laps.

Bennett, however, would not be denied and went on to win his first Stateline Challenge. Lindsley finished an impressive second, followed by Escanaba’s Joey Stankowicz, who had his best ever finish in a Stateline Challenge.

Placing fourth was Norway’s Cory Cootware who also had a solid run, and 5th was Norway’s Adam Faull recording his best Stateline Challenge finish. Rounding out the top 10 were Appleton’s Tim Baumann, Mike Lantagne, Norway Speedway Hall of Famer Bruce White, Quinnesec’s Parker Summerfield and Green Bay’s Ryan Manthei.

The Stateline Challenge was sponsored by Stateline Chevrolet-Corvette-GMC of Iron River; Aurora Liquors, in honor of the late Norway Speedway Hall of Famers Kent Pearson and Roy Allard; U.P. State Credit Union; and Midway Rentals & Sales.

The Speedway was also visited by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel racing sports writer Dave Kallmann, who is originally from the Florence, Wis., area and got his start at Norway Speedway in the mid-80s.

In the Auto Value Super Stock division, Payton Linder recorded her first fast time of the season with 15.908. The feature event, however, was won by Kingsford’s Zach Hanson. He avoided going a lap down at the start of the race when the car wouldn’t start and then ironically went on to win his second feature event of the season as a rookie driver in the division.

Second place in Auto Value Super Stock also went to a rookie, Andy Secrist, who’s the current point leader. Placing third was Upper Pine Creek’s Ryan Wender. Norway’s Tim Schultz Jr. returned in a big way, getting fourth, and Marinette’s Kevin Peterson made a return to the Speedway with a fifth-place finish.

In the 141 Auto Sportsman division, Green Bay’s Jeff Nooyen won his second feature of the season followed by Green Bay’s Nick Kroehler, Spread Eagle’s Todd Schmidt and Norway’s Tom Neeley. Placing fifth was Niagara’s Brian Gilhuber, who also took fast time with 18.189 and first in the second heat race. Cole Neeley took his second heat race this season. Neeley will be leaving for basic training and this was his last event.

In the Whelen Fab 4 division, Kingsford’s Eli Whittkopf took first in his second feature win of the season. Second was Faithorn’s Trever Cronick, who got fast time with 17.932. He was followed by Hermansville’s Brent Ayotte, Norway’s Andy Street and Florence’s Bobby Nordell.

This week is the 25th annual Fan Appreciation Night. There will not be qualifying.

All race cars and drivers will be handing out hot-shot cards and candy on the front stretch for one hour before the event. Fan Appreciation Night is sponsored by Incredible Bank and Island Resort & Casino.

July 18 summaries:

— Coca-Cola Late Models — Qualifying: Braison Bennett 14.356. Odd Heat: 1st Braison Bennett, 2nd Tj Spierowski. Even Heat: 1st Cory Cootware, 2nd Mike Lantagne. Feature: 1st Braison Bennett, 2nd Dan Lindsley, 3rd Joey Stankowicz, 4th Cory Cootware, 5th Adam Faull, 6th Tim Baumann, 7th Mike Lantagne, 8th Bruce White, 9th Parker Summerfield, 10th Ryan Manthei, 11th Devon Wilcox, 12th Abi Yelle, 13th Chuck Carmin, 14th Payton Linder, 15th Scott Stanchina, 16th Alyssa Larson, 17th Tj Spierowski, 18th Parker Cain, 19th Joey Pontbriand.

— Auto Value Super Stocks — Qualifying: Payton Linder 15.908. Fast Dash: 1st Jesse Hendrickson, 2nd Tim Schultz Jr. Heat 1: 1st Stewart Hornick, 2nd Brian Ely. Heat 2: 1st Dean Bellmore, 2nd Zach Hanson. Feature: 1st Zach Hanson, 2nd Andy Secrist, 3rd Ryan Wender, 4th Tim Schultz Jr, 5th Kevin Peterson, 6th Dean Bellmore, 7th Payton Linder, 8th Jesse Hendrickson, 9th Stewart Hornick, 10th Joe Ostermann, 11th Brian Ely, 12th Izayah Reed.

— 141 Auto Sportsman — Qualifying: Brian Gilhuber 18.189. Heat 1: 1st Cole Neeley, 2nd Tom Neeley. Heat 2: 1st Brian Gilhuber, 2nd Hayden McFarland. Feature: 1st Jeff Nooyen, 2nd Nick Kroehler, 3rd Todd Schmidt, 4th Tom Neeley, 5th Brian Gilhuber, 6th Emily Vincent, 7th Paul Holton, 8th Cole Neeley, 9th BJ Schoneck, 10th Carol Graves, 11th Hayden McFarland, 12th Jon Maenpaa, 13th Stewart Hornick, 14th Troy LaFave.

— Whelen Fab 4 — Qualifying: Trever Cronick 17.932. Heat 1: 1st Brent Ayotte, 2nd Trever Cronick. Feature: 1st Eli Whittkopf, 2nd Trever Cronick, 3rd Brent Ayotte, 4th Andy Street, 5th Bobby Nordell, 6th Jake VanHese, 7th Cody Gunville.