Ryan Wender, arms raised, center, earned both the fast qualifying time and the feature win in the Super Stocks division at Norway Speedway on Friday. (Courtesy photo)

Norway Speedway’s Fast 5 Series kicked off in thrilling fashion Friday night as drivers battled for valuable points in Round 1 of the popular five-race championship series.

Fans were treated to competitive racing throughout the evening with strong fields and exciting feature events across all four divisions.

Qualifying set the tone for the night as several drivers laid down impressive laps. In the Whelen Fab 4 division, Cody Gunville topped the charts with a fast lap of 18.103 seconds. Jon Maenpaa paced the 141 Sportsman division with a lap of 18.055 seconds.

Ryan Wender was quickest among the Super Stocks at 15.924 seconds, while T.J. Spierowski set fast time in the Coca-Cola Late Models with an impressive 14.337-second lap.

Dash race action saw Zach Gazda claim the Whelen Fab 4 victory. Zach Hanson captured the Super Stock dash, while Cory Cootware earned the Late Model dash win.

Heat race competition remained intense throughout the evening. Gary Thom picked up the victory in Sportsman Heat #1, while Carol Graves drove to the win in Sportsman Heat #2.

Payton Linder captured the Super Stock heat race, and Joey Stankowitz took top honors in the Late Model heat.

As the night reached its climax, the feature events provided plenty of excitement for the Norway Speedway faithful.

Cody Gunville continued his strong performance by racing to victory in the Whelen Fab 4 feature, adding another impressive win to his season résumé.

In the 141 Sportsman division, Jon Maenpaa backed up his fast qualifying effort with a feature victory, showcasing both speed and consistency throughout the night.

Ryan Wender proved to be the class of the field in the Super Stocks, earning the feature win after setting fast time earlier in the evening.

The Coca-Cola Late Model feature capped off an action-packed night, with Joey Pontbriand charging to victory lane after an outstanding performance against a talented field of competitors.

With Round 1 complete, the battle for the Fast 5 Series championship is officially underway. Drivers will now turn their attention toward Round 2 as they continue their pursuit of valuable points and series glory at Norway Speedway.