Survival Of The Fittest: Zehr Takes First At Norway

NORWAY---The TUNDRA Super Late Model Stock Car Racing Series came to Norway Saturday night, and boy, was it a rough ride for many of the drivers.

Literally half of the 26 drivers ended the featured race in the pits, instead of at the finish line, and series points co-leader Dalton Zehr emerged with the victory in the event.

Gladstone teenager Jordan Ives started 12th, worked his way through the pack, then was tapped and spun out on the 24th lap.

He rebounded to finish eighth overall.

The 60-lap race started with a caution on the very first lap as several drivers got tangled up on the first turn. Through the first half of the race, there were no less than six cautions, each knocking out at least one car from the event.

Zehr entered this fourth-of-the-season TUNDRA series race tied for the points lead with Eugene Gregorich, Jr.

Each had 338 points coming in, but the Florida-native Zehr dominated the later stages of the race to win by a wide margin. Gregorich was seventh.

Dalton Zehr takes checkered flag at Norway.

For Ives, at age 16 the youngest racer in the field, it was a frustrating night. In qualifying, his 14.7 seconds was not good enough for the five-car "dash" race. And Ives had to start the feature race in the 12th position.

He ended up being bumped a third of the way through the race, and had to start again from the back of the pack.

Ives, who has won twice here at Norway this season, battled hard to get back into the eighth position as numerous racers suffered misfortunes that left them in the pits.

Saturday Night's final Race results:
1. Dalton Zehr (#119)
2. Dan Lindsley (#79)
3. Mark Macbery (#12)
4. Nick Panitzke (#22)
5. Frank Nitzke (#18)
6. Jeremy Lepak (#40)
7. Eugene Gregonrich, Jr (#14)
8. Jordan Ives (#18)
9. Mike Litchfield (#14)
10. Dillon Kralovetz (#2)

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken at Saturday night's event.