Norway’s Joe Ostermann, No. 11, came away with a win at the Bahama Bracket Nationals in Grundy, Ill. (Goodaker Photography)

A group of Norway Speedway drivers recently traveled to Grundy, Ill., to race at the Bracket Nationals. The event has been going on for 37 years and is affectionally known as the Bahama Bracket Nationals, as the winner of the event used to receive a trip to the Bahamas.

The event has attracted some of the top racers from nine different states, including as far away as Georgia. The track is 1/3-mile in length, banked at 20 degrees, and is located on the Grundy County Fairgrounds.

This year, local driver Jeff Nooyen of Green Bay, Wis., managed to finish third in his feature event. First place went to Herb Moag, followed by John Dietrich. Nooyen started 18th in the event and passed 20 cars to get to third. He also finished third in his qualifying race.

Last year’s champion, Joe Ostermann. won his second race in Illinois in the preliminaries, giving him the 14th starting spot in his feature. He made his way up to third when mechanical failure sidelined him for the rest of the race.

John Ostermann, the 2023 winner of the event, was running ninth when he ran out of fuel in the 90-minute race that was marred by 18 cautions with 12 laps to go. Kingsford’s Troy LaFave had an impressive run and made it up to fifth when he ran out of gas with five laps to go. LaFave finished fifth in his qualifier, as did John Ostermann.

Other Norway Speedway drivers participated in fall events, including the Chili Implement Fall Shootout at Marshfield Speedway. Ecanaba’s Joey Stankowicz won his heat race and finished fifth in the main event. He was followed by Vulcan’s Travis Walker, 6th; Kingsford’s Scott Stanchina, 9th; Jason Wells, 10th; and Marquette’s Abi Yelle, 18th. John Beale of Verona, Wis., took first in the feature.

John Ostermann participated in the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series in his 1962 Ford Thunderbird and finished 12th in the Jim Langreck Memorial Feature and ninth in the Chili Implement Fall Shootout Feature.

Norway Speedway will be announcing a new division to be running weekly in the 2026 season, which will include all vintage cars and replica cars that meet the requirements. This will be a non-contact bracketed division at 18 seconds for all full-bodied and open wheel race cars.

One of the largest short-track racing events in the United States is the 56th Annual Oktoberfest held in La Crosse, Wis., on a legendary asphalt track. Norway Speedway drivers John Novara and Ryan Manthei, as well as Parker Cain and Brandon Reichenberger, participated.

Reichenberger placed third in the feature and defended his Midwest Truck Series Championship. Marquette’s Parker Cain got 16th, and Green Bay’s Manthei placed 18th in the feature in a truck co-owned by Aurora’s John Novara. John Ostermann placed ninth out of 17 cars in the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series Feature and second in the 8-inch tire division feature. NASCAR racing legend Rich Bickle placed third in the feature and first in the heat race.

The season opener at Norway Speedway is scheduled for Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m. Updates will be posted on the Speedway’s Facebook page.