NORWAY — Despite the recent coronavirus outbreak and pandemic, officials remain hopeful that the first green flag will still fly as planned at the season-opening race on May 22 at the Norway Speedway located at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway.

One thing that the outbreak has created, according to the race series sponsor Dickinson County Racing Association, is the time for many race teams in the Upper Peninsula and northeast Wisconsin to have in the shop to work on their racers for the upcoming season.

The DCRA hopes that once things return to normal, allowing carry-ins will make attending their Friday night races an appealing and affordable night out for families.

The organizers released their summer schedule on Tuesday for the weekly events at the one-third-mile paved oval.

The season’s highlight promises to be the 37th annual Stateline Challenges on July 3, presented by the Island Resort & Casino and Aurora Liquors.

The event, which is also the Kent Pearson Memorial, was won by Travis Sauter of Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin, in 2019. A Stateline Challenge fan fund has been set up online on Facebook, where fans can cast votes through Paypal at $5 a vote for their favorite drivers to attend the big race and receive bonus money.

Auto Value series races will be held June 19 and July 17. Coca Cola late models will battle for a $1,000 winners’ top prize while Auto Value super stocks will scrap for a $750 victory. In 2019, third-generation racer Robby Iverson of Escanaba and Dan Lindsley of Vulcan captured the late-model series wins while Brett Bray of Norway and Tim Schultz of Vulcan emerged triumphant in the super stocks.

Another $1,000 winner’s prize is up for grabs on Werner Electric Night for late models on Aug. 7, while the inaugural Four Banger Frenzy sponsored by MC Signs and Sal-Mar Resort is Aug. 28.

The speedway’s Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will be unveiled July 31 in conjunction with an appearance from vintage modifieds.

Two popular events also take place in July — Kids Nickel Toss is July 10, while Fan Appreciation Night is July 24.

The second annual Pavement Pounder race for dirt sport mods return Aug. 14. Last season, Mike Richer of Bark River captured the win.

Utility terrain vehicle races are slated on three nights with spectator eliminator events scheduled over six nights.

The UTV championship night is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 6, the day before Labor Day and sponsored by the Island Resort and Dickinson County Fair to be held during the fair. A 100-lap late model feature is scheduled with a rain date on Labor Day.

Weekly divisions include Coca Cola late models, Auto Value super stocks, 141 auto stock cars and MC Signs & Graphics four bangers. Ken’s Sports sport trucks will again compete every other week.

Fans can check the track’s page on Facebook as well as its home page, norwayspeedway.com.

Information is also available by emailing DRCA President John Ostermann at ostermannjohn@hotmail.com.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.