Pressers
NORWAY SPEEDWAY’S ‘YOUTH MOVEMENT’ ALIVE AND WELL IN ’21
Posted on: Friday May 21, 2021
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORWAY SPEEDWAY CHAMPION’S SON, STEPSON KEEP YOUTH MOVEMENT ALIVE AT MICHIGAN RACETRACK
(Dan Lindsley & Ryan Wender’s kids to race full time in ‘21)
(Norway, MI) May 21 – Even though they are too young to obtain their driver’s licenses yet a pair of teens who’s parents are Norway Speedway champions are leading the youth movement on Friday night action at Norway (MI) Speedway this summer.
15-year-old Wyatt Spade, a freshman this year at Norway High School, and Kingsford 8th grader Tony Wender, a 14-year-old, will be among the teens competing weekly at the third-mile, paved oval located at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in ’21.
Dan Lindsley (left) poses with his teenage stepson Wyatt Spade. Space will battle for rookie-of-the-year honors in Norway Speedway’s top division in 2021.
Spade is the stepson of Coca Cola late model champion Dan Lindsley while Wender’s dad Ryan Wender captured the Auto Value super stock track championship in 2020.
Spade is a standout athlete for the Norway Knights in both football and basketball. “We had considered putting him in a sport truck but honestly late model made more sense,” explained Lindsley. “I mean I’ve got two late models and all of the equipment. Plus, I don’t know the first thing about those trucks. I’m not running a full schedule this year, but I’ll be out there a few times racing.”
“I used to help out with the race car every now and then but really not so much until this past winter,” Spade explained. “Dan asked me what I thought about it and wanted to make sure my mom and dad and everyone was on board with it.”
Spade’s car number 17 he will compete with was built brand new in 2014. Ironically unlike many teenage racers these days on both dirt or asphalt Spade has no prior racing experience. Spade has a few practice sessions under his belt already. “It’s pretty fast-paced,” Spade explained. “Dan was on the radio telling me what a better line would be to take into the corners. I’d like to get a top ten finish in points this year, maybe win rookie-of-the-year and eventually turn a lap under 15 seconds. Those are pretty realistic goals I think.”
Spade’s pit crew members include many of Lindsley’s long time crew members Bret Kreamer, Rod Anderson, Trevor Cronick, Jake Gendron, Austin Jansen, Ron Kovala and also Spade’s father Scott Spade. “Racing takes up so much of our time and without my family’s support none of this would be possible,” Lindsley admitted. “I can’t thank Missy, Cadeance, Logan and Austin enough as well.”
Spade’s team of sponsors include Sanicki Construction, Pit Stop Bar and Johnson Automotive all of Niagara. They also include Lindsley Collision Repair in Iron Mountain, Era Chevrolet in Norway and Coleman Racing Products of Menominee, MI.
Upper Pine Creek’s Ryan Wender (left) poses next to his teenage son Tony Wender during an early season practice session at Norway Speedway. Tony Wender will battle for rookie-of-the-year honors in the 141 Auto stock car class at the third-mile paved oval in 2021.
Wender, who plays football for the Kingsford Flivvers, had a brief stint racing karts starting at the age of four. He’s been helping his dad with his super stock and works on tractors and other machinery as well. “We’ll be starting out in the 141 Auto stock car class,” Tony Wender said. “Dad and I had this planned for a while and started building a car.”
While dad Ryan Wender plans on defending his super stock crown the younger Wender has more modest goals in sight. “I’d be happy this first year to maybe finish races and score some top five finishes,” Tony Wender said. “I’ve got a lot to learn. My friends all think what I’m doing is pretty cool. I’m ready to go.”
Wender’s team of marketing partners includes Bergeron Motors & Bergeron Toyota, M & D Mobile, M & D Automotive and Used Car Sales, Grandma Lynn and Grandma Kim. Wender’s pit crew includes Dad Ryan Wender, Brent Schupp and Wes Stewart.
The season opening night is scheduled for Friday, May 28 with the first green flag flying at 7 p.m. Norway Speedway remains one of the ONLY racetracks in the Midwest which allow carry ins (no bottles), making it some of the most affordable family entertainment available.
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 on an every-other-week basis.
A Saturday afternoon practice will be made available to drivers May 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Those practice sessions are free for spectators to attend.
You can learn more about Norway Speedway through both our Facebook page and at norwayspeedway.com. You can also email Dickinson County Racing Association (DCRA) president John Ostermann at ostermannjohn@hotmail.com.