ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
POSSE OF MICHIGAN DRIVERS LOOK TO UNSEAT WISCONSIN’S KRALOVETZ
IN NORWAY SPEEDWAY’S 2018 COCA COLA LATE MODEL CHASE
(Wisconsin driver has taken track title three straight seasons)
(Norway, MI) – With the 2018 racing season less than two weeks away, it’s really anyone’s guess just who will be crowned Norway Speedway’s Coca Cola late model champion after the season finale Sunday, September 2 after the Dickinson County Fair race.
Bonduel, Wisconsin’s Dillion Kralovetz has captured the crown the past three seasons at the paved, third-mile oval. There are plenty of players who will contend to unseat Kralovetz from his throne. The question remains which teams will choose to have enough skin in the game to race at Norway and not miss any shows?
During the off season the Dickinson County Racing Association changed up their tire rule for the ’18 season. Late model teams can put on three new Hoosier tires every other week on average. In past seasons it’s been that “tire management plan” that has separated the “men” from the “boys” or the “women” from the “girls” when it comes to deciding who will run those “off nights” when teams can’t bolt three new tires on.
Among the contenders who could possibly bring the title back to the home state of Michigan is Dan Lindsley. The hometown driver won the crown in 2014 and placed fourth in the point standings a year ago. Lindsley will have a brand new race car at his disposal this year. Bark River’s Jordan Ives was runner up to Kralovetz a year ago and if his team commits to running weekly they have to be considered a threat to win, along with the third place points finishers a year ago, Bark River’s Tom Lindquist.
Two drivers who’ve gotten some seat time in already this season could also make some noise in ’18 – Escanaba’s Jamie Iverson and hometown driver Joey Pontbriand. Iverson looked good at Dells Raceway Park in the Icebreaker 100 where he made the show and finished 13th in a tough field of competitors. Other perennial front runners include Norway drivers Jason Wells, Cameron Clifford and John Ostermann, Kingsford drivers Scott and Brian Stanchina, Marquette’s Mike D’Angelo, Vulcan’s Dean Varda and Spread Eagle, Wisconsin veteran Bruce White.
Other young up-and-coming drivers who plan on plying their craft and attempt to build upon improvements they made towards the end of ’17 include Eldorado, Wisconsin’s Tyler Radavich, Green Bay, Wisconsin’s Alyssa Larson and Kingsford’s Rick Holmstrom. Other part timers we can expect to see from week-to-week include former track champions Kris Kelly of Vulcan and Daytona, Florida native Dalton Zehr. Others home state drivers include Menominee drivers Kim Klitzke, Scott Hofmann and Fred Gignac, Manistique’s Brett Widdes and former sportsman division standout Michelle Janczewski of Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin. South of the border Wisconsin’s Reagan May (De Pere), Mike Reichenberger (Appleton) Neal Sannes (De Pere) along with rookie contender Jordan Chambers (Green Bay) will travel north on Interstate 41 to battle against Michigan’s top late model pilots.
A practice session is slated for the third-mile, paved oval Saturday, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cars in any and all divisions are welcome to attend. Pit admission will be $10 per person and grandstand admission is free for fans that day.
The annual Island Resort & Casino Car Show will take place Saturday, May 19 at the Casino in Harris from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A practice is tentatively slated from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. that day for teams who attended the car show.
The season opening race at Norway Speedway is slated for Friday, May 25 heading into Memorial Day weekend. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. weekly with the grandstand opening at 5 p.m. Qualifying begins at 5:45 p.m. with the first green flag flying at 7 p.m.
Please check our website norwayspeedway.com and our Facebook page for further information.
