The Scoop
NORWAY TUNDRA GO JULY 16 HOMECOMING FOR ZEHR
Posted on: Thursday July 14, 2022
Current FRRC super late model points leader Dalton Zehr is among the 30 plus expected entries when the TUNDRA super late models return to Norway (MI) Speedway Saturday July 16. (TJ Harron Photography)
The TUNDRA series race at Norway (MI) Speedway Saturday, July 16 will be a homecoming of sorts for Dalton Zehr.
The driver of the 119 who currently lives in Verona, WI has experienced a ton of success at the third-mile, paved oval located at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway over the years. And that success came largely while wheeling the Gene Coleman-owned familiar red 119.
The last time the TUNDRA series made a stop in Norway was 2014 and Zehr captured the feature flag in that event.
Fast forward to 2022. Zehr doesn’t get up to Norway much anymore. The current Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) super late model series points leader still sports the number 119 on his Gildan Racing entry. “When I left racing for Gene (Coleman) to go work full time for Gildan Racing I asked Gene if I could keep running the 119 number and he was okay with it,” Zehr said. “It’s to honor Gene (Coleman) and I identify that number with my career. It’s the only number I’ve run in my super late model racing career and I am aware of the people like Kevin Cywinski and Gene who had raced that numbered car with a lot of success over the years.”
As for a return to Norway – Zehr knows he’s got a few tough customers up that way he’ll have to get through to get to the front. “Yes I’m very excited to get back to Norway,” said Zehr, who’s a 2013 Norway track champion as well as a two time Stateline Challenge winner. “I know Justin (Mondeik) and Dan (Lindsley) plan on being there are those two are always fast at Norway.”
Mondeik has won three straight Stateline Challenges at Norway and boasts nearly a 75 percent winning percentage at Norway, as does Zehr. “Honestly we’d love to get up to Norway more often,” Zehr admitted. “But from our shop near Madison it’s nearly a 4 and ½ hour trip for us. We’ve got 40 races on our schedule and remain as busy as ever.”
When the season started Zehr and the Gildan Racing team had no intentions of running weekly for the Wisconsin International Raceway super late model title. But after two wins in the first two weeks plans changed. “Our schedule originally was just to run Red, White and Blue but we had the points lead and we decided then to compete for the weekly title on Thursday nights,” Zehr admitted. “I’ve only run weekly at WIR one year before and so far we’ve had success on Thursday nights. We’re gunning for the WIR title too.”
When it comes to Norway and the TUNDRA date Saturday July 16, Zehr still feels he’s got to prove something. “I want to show I’ve still got a dominant car at Norway,” Zehr admitted. “I want to show that it that I’ve still got it up there.”
When it comes to the TUNDRA series Zehr splits the seat time and team drives with John Beale. “John was originally going to run the full TUNDRA deal,” Zehr explained. “But when they announced Norway was on the TUNDRA schedule we decided there was simply no way we could go to Norway and not have me in the car. That was pretty cool of John to do that and now we’re team driving for that series.”
Zehr is one of a very few people in the Midwest who can claim to work full time in the short track racing industry. “Yes I’m John’s crew chief when I’m not racing,” Zehr said. “I set the race cars during the week and make sure everything is ready to go. It’s some long days and a lot of hours but I’ve really got nothing to complain about and am very fortunate to be able to do what I do for a living.”
When it comes to winning the longer races at Norway patience has always proven to be an ingredient to any driver who was lucky enough to find victory lane. Zehr argues that’s not quite the case with the TUNDRA show Saturday. “When I first started doing the (TUNDRA) tour they were 100 lap races mostly,” Zehr said. “But I learned that with today’s competition there is no sitting around. You have to get to the front right away. Even a 75 lapper doesn’t leave much time to make a mistake. You can’t sit around on your hands too long otherwise someone like Dan (Lindsley) or Justin (Mondeik) will beat you to the punch.”
The marketing partners of the Gildan Racing team include Gildan, First Business Bank, American Apparel, Comfort Colors, Gildan Wholesale, Making Apparel Better, TJ Harron Photography and Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. The team’s website is GildanRacing.com.
TUNDRA NOTEBOOK – A field of between 25-30 of super late model teams are expected to converge on Norway for the Saturday special. A full field of Auto Value super stocks, 141 auto stock cars and MC Signs and Graphics are slated to take place. Qualifying gets underway at 5:30 p.m. with the first green flag flying at 7:00 p.m. Carry ins will not be allowed in the grandstands for this event.
A $100 cash long haul award will be doled out courtesy of joeverdegan.com to the TUNDRA team who tows the furthest to compete July 16. For more information please check out the series website tundrasuperlates.com.
NORWAY TUNDRA EXPECTED ENTRIES AS OF JULY 13, 2022
1 – Jesse Oudenhoven, Kaukana, Wis.
2 – Greg Borchardt, Prior Lake, Minn.
2 – Jordan Thiel, Darboy, Wis.
2 – Darren Jackson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
5 – Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis.
7 – Joey Pontbriand, Norway, Mich.
8 – Chad Butz, Green Bay, Wis.
10 – Andy Monday, Appleton, Wis.
12 – Mark Mackesy, Wausau, Wis.
13 – Tyler Radavich, Fond du Lac, Wis.
13 – Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain, Mich.
15 – Adam Faull, Vulcan, Mich.
17 – Max Kahler, Caledonia, Ill.
21 – Jim Duchow, Appleton, Wis.
22 – Will Timmers, Kaukauna, Wis.
23 – Bruce White, Kingsford, Mich.
31 – Jason Wells, Kingsford, Mich.
36 – Lou Goss, Green Bay, Wis.
40 – Curt Tillman, Rockford, Ill.
44 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, Wis.
52 – Brock Heinrich, Wausau, Wis.
56 – Kole Guralski, Wausau, Wis. [R]
66 – James Storey, Burlington, Wis. [R]
77 – Riley Stenjem, Utica, Wis.
77 – Tanner Kelly, Norway, Mich
79 – Barrett Polhemus, Tomball, Tex. [R]
79 – Dan Lindsley, Vulcan, Mich.
87 – Colin Reffner, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
91 – Mickey Schallie, Darboy, Wis.
97 – James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis.
97 – Robbie Iverson, Escanaba, Mich.
119 – Dalton Zehr, Verona, Wis.
