• HS Softball 4/21: Menominee 16, Carney-Nadeau 0, Gm 1
  • HS Softball 4/21: Menominee 20, Carney-Nadeai 0, Gm 2
  • HS Softball 4/17: Norway 10, Lake Linden-Hubbell 0, Gm 1
  • HS Softball 4/17: Kingsford 3, Houghton 1, Gm 1
  • HS Baseball 4/17: Iron Mountain 6, L'Anse 2, Gm 1
6288 articles
Thursday April 24, 2025
Four To Be Inducted Into Norway Speedway Hall

NORWAY---A quartet of former racers will be the 2025 inductees into the Norway Speedway Hall of Fame, the HOF committee announced this week.

Those inductees include Aurora, Wisconsin's Ryan Windell, Norway, Michigan's Steve DeBakker, Escanaba, Michigan's Ron Jenshak Sr. and Appleton, Wisconsin's Mike Reichenberger.

Here are the backgrounds of these respective racers:

Ron Jenshak Sr. - The Escanaba racer got his racing career started in 1998, wheeling a four-cylinder on the half-mile dirt track in his hometown.

After Esky closed up, Jenshak traveled to Sands Speedway in Marquette, winning a track title there in 2000. It was in 2001 when Jenshak built a street stock and began racing at Norway's paved, third-mile oval and competed through 2011. Jenshak had a penchant for nabbing fast time, earning that honor on 44 different occasions.

In addition to earning four street stock track championships, Jenshak earned Most Improved Driver in 2002 and earned the Sportsmanship award in 2003. Jenshak also earned the Auto Value Challenge Series championships in 2004 and 2007. After taking some years off, Jenshak returned to race at Norway, his last year there behind the wheel was in 2021. Jenshak wound up spotting for his brother Mark for a couple of years, and went back to racing on the dirt for some years as well.

Steve DeBakker - This Norway, Michigan super late model driver passed away on April 3, 2022. Steve's racing career spanned three decades at Norway, from 1979 through 2011. Most of his career was spent in the late model division.

Steve was always a frontrunner in the track's top class. DeBakker placed in the top five in the point standings ten times, and wound up earning the division's track championship in 1994. DeBakker would become the first late model champion at the track who was a resident of Norway.

DeBakker earned a reputation as a driver who was eager to help younger drivers in the early days of their respective racing careers. Other accolades DeBakker earned included the sportsman class rookie-of-the-year honors in 1979, and he was also named the late model division's most improved driver in 1985. DeBakker's biggest feature win came in the 1997 Rick Pepin Memorial race, where he nipped Kevin Cywinski at the line in the 100 lap contest.
DeBakker also volunteered his time branding tires for the Dickinson County Racing Association (DCRA) for two seasons.

Ryan Windell – This Aurora, Wisconsin racer earned a trio of street stock track titles from 2003 through 2005, when the street stock class had an abundance of race cars, and was loaded with talent.

Windell's racing career was launched in 1999. With help from his Dad Mike, Windell's rookie season proved to be a steep learning curve as he struggled to make his way into the feature. Windell earned his first fast time and feature win in '02. That competitive season eventually led to those championships, which included 17 fast times, 36 top 5's and four wins. Windell also set the track record that lasted for over 15 years before it was broken.

Mike Reichenberger – This second-generation late model racer from Appleton, Wisconsin earned a pair of division track titles in 2007 and 2011. In addition, Reichenberger nabbed a prestigious Stateline Challenge victory in 2007. Every year from 2000-2015, Reichenberger placed in the top five in the point standings. Reichenberger's first Norway feature win came during a Labor Day weekend special in 1998.

Reichenberger's Norway Speedway racing career began in the late 1980's, and he always competed with a small pit crew, which included his dad Jerry Reichenberger, Bob Boudreau and his son Brandon. Reichenberger described racing in Norway as a very relaxing atmosphere.

During the '00's and '10's, Reichenberger would continue to pop in on occasion in late model competition in Norway. In more recent years, Reichenberger has continued to help his son Brandon Reichenberger, who has competed in both super late model and Midwest truck series competition.

The four will be inducted at the speedway during a trackside ceremony Friday, June 27. The raindate for the HOF induction, if needed, will be Friday, July 18.

You can follow the Norway Speedway Hall of Fame Facebook page for additional information.

All past inductees of the Norway Speedway HOF are recognized, and have plaques on display at the Thirsty Whale Bar and Grill in Norway.