Checkers or Wreckers: Power Wheels make their debut; Pontbriand doubles up on features

The action at Norway Speedway takes a youthful turn in a July 25 Power Wheels race. (Courtesy photo)
Fans were treated to some hot weather and another great night of racing, and they got to enjoy a long-standing tradition of fan appreciation night and experienced the start of a new tradition as well.
In the Coca-Cola Late Model division Joey Pontbriand continued his stranglehold on the speedway, winning his fifth feature event of the season. For the second time this year, the twin-feature format was used.
Pontbriand went from the back to the front in an impressive fashion holding off second-place finisher Scott Stanchina. Third was Cory Cootware, followed by Joey Stankowicz and Bruce White. Parker Summerfield enjoyed his best finish in his career, placing sixth.
In the second feature, Pontbriand again used the outside of the track to go from the back to the front and take the checkered. He was followed by Stankowicz, Cootware and Stanchina. Veteran John Ostermann had his best finish in fifth, driving a car owned by Hall of Famer Mark Miller. Alyssa Larson had her best finish after taking a couple years, placing 6th.
In the Auto Value Super Stocks feature, defending track champion Ryan Wender has been up on the steering wheel of his car all summer long, winning his first feature of the season. Former three-time track champion Tim Schultz Jr. returned to the speedway in an impressive fashion winning the heat race and grabbing the lead early in the super stock main event.
Wender has been the fast qualifier every night so far this summer and has had to start at the rear of an impressive field. On lap 11, Wender pulled up on the outside door of Schultz and the fans were treated to a battle of the ages as Wender and Schultz went side by side changing leads several times.
Wender finally got around with five laps to go, winning his first main event of the season and gaining a little bit of ground in the championship points battle. He’s within five points of rookie Andy Secrist, who placed second in the feature. Secrist was followed by Payton Linder, Izayah Reed, Schultz and Dean Bellmore.
In the 141 Auto Sportsman, Zachary Krans made his return to the speedway taking the first heat and first in the feature event. He was followed by Travis Hulsizerm, Todd Schmidt, BJ Schoneck, Nick Kroehler and Jeff Nooyen, who won the second heat.
In the Whelen Fab 4, Cody Gunville won his first feature event of the season. He was followed by Trever Cronick, Eli Whittkopf, Andy Street, Ashlyn Van Den Heuvel and Devin Farragh.
After being rained out on its first attempt, Norway Speedway had its Power Wheels race. Fourteen competitors ranging from 4- to 9-years-old raced cars, motorcycles, and tanks. The track was on the front straightaway and the kids got to hear the roar of the crowd on several occasions.
Tonight is the Fast 5 Stage 3 Werner Electric 50 Lap Main Event. The current points leader in the Coca-Cola Late Model division in Fast 5 points is Vulcan’s Dan Lindsley. In the Auto Value Super Stock division, the current points leader in the Fast 5 is Secrist. In the 141 Auto Sportsman Fast 5 current points leader is Brian Gilhuber. Whelen Fab 4 Fast 5 current points leader is Cronick.
July 25 summaries:
Coca-Cola Late Models: Feature 1: 1st Joey Pontbriand, 2nd Scott Stanchina, 3rd Cory Cootware, 4th Joey Stankowicz, 5th Bruce White, 6th Parker Summerfield, 7th Devon Wilcox, 8th John Ostermann, 9th Mike Lantagne, 10th Payton Linder, 11th Alyssa Larson, 12th Kaden Kostichka. Feature 2: 1st Joey Pontbriand, 2nd Joey Stankowicz, 3rd Cory Cootware, 4th Scott Stanchina, 5th John Ostermann, 6th Alyssa Larson, 7th Devon Wilcox, 8th Parker Summerfield, 9th Bruce White, 10th Payton Linder, 11th Mike Lantagne, 12th Kaden Kostichka
Auto Value Super Stocks: Fast Dash: 1st Zach Hanson, 2nd Dean Bellmore. Heat 1: 1st Tim Schultz Jr, 2nd Kevin Peterson. Feature: 1st Ryan Wender, 2nd Andy Secrist, 3rd Payton Linder, 4th Izayah Reed, 5th Tim Schultz Jr, 6th Dean Bellmore, 7th Zach Hanson, 8th Joe Ostermann, 9th Kevin Peterson, 10th Troy LaFave
141 Auto Sportsman: Heat 1: 1st Zachary Krans, 2nd Hayden McFarland. Heat 2: 1st Jeff Nooyen, 2nd Carol Graves. Feature: 1st Zachary Krans, 2nd Travis Hulsizer, 3rd Todd Schmidt, 4th BJ Schoneck, 5th Nick Kroehler, 6th Jeff Nooyen, 7th Justin Larson, 8th Jon Maenpaa, 9th Hayden McFarland, 10th Carol Graves, 11th Stewart Hornick, 12th Troy LaFave, 13th Emily Vincent, 14th Paul Holton, 15th Darren Peterson
Whelen Fab 4: Heat 1: 1st Trever Cronick, 2nd Cody Gunville. Feature: 1st Cody Gunville, 2nd Trever Cronick, 3rd Eli Whittkopf, 4th Andy Street, 5th Ashlyn Van Den Heuvel, 6th Devin Farragh, 7th Cameron Schiefelbein, 8th Jake VanHese, 9th Mike Singletary, 10th Chase Nerat, 11th Bobby Nordell, 12th Chris Hallenbeck