• HS Softball 4/18: Gladstone 10, Westwood 0, Gm 1
  • HS Softball 4/18: Gladstone 13, Westwood 2, Gm 2
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Iron Mountain 11, L'Anse 0
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Gladstone 2, Negaunee 0, Gm 1
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Manistique 4, Superior Central 2, Gm 1
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Gladstone 4, Negaunee 1, Gm 2
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Manistique 13, Superior Central 2, Gm 2
  • HS Softball 4/18: Peshtigo 15, Menominee 4
5906 articles
Saturday April 20, 2024
14-Year-Old Ives Races With Big Boys....And Wins!

NORWAY---The Ives name has been big in Upper Peninsula stock car racing for generations. And the newest member of the Ives family is making his mark on the track, even though he won't be able to legally drive on our streets for two more years.

Jordan Ives of Gladstone turned 14 years old on March 30th.

But unlike most kids his age, he was behind the wheel Friday night at Norway Speedway as the racing season got its official opener. Ives was on the same track as men three times his age, including people like Jamie Iverson and Kris Kelly.

But the 14-year-old made a remarkable debut by not just competing in, but winning his heat and the semi-feature race in the Pepsi Late Model Division in Norway.

Jordan Ives inside his #18 car in Norway.
And then in the main event, the youngster who is barely old enough to shave started at the back of the pack, and worked his way up to a 13th place finish. Iverson finished first, but.....

Jordan Ives is a third-generation racer.

Anyone who knows anything about racing in our area remembers Jordan's grandfather, Roger Ives of Bark River. And Jordan's dad, Steve, is a former Late Model driver. So is Jordan's uncle, Greg Ives, who is currently the top engineer for the NASCAR Hendrick Motorsports Team.

So, there is certainly a pedigree there. But Jordan Ives has also done a lot of work on his own, as he started racing motorbikes when he was just five years old. He was in the micro-sprint races the past couple of years (on both dirt and ice), and then made the jump to the big time with his debut in Norway last Friday night.

And with that debut, he became the youngest driver ever to compete in the Late Model Division in the long history of Norway Speedway. And he's not stopping there.

Ives will also race this summer in his #18 car at Golden Sands, Wausau, The Wisconsin Dells, and at Wisconsin International Raceway (along with Norway).

They set up a Facebook Fan Page for Jordan Ives on Monday, something his family members never had during their racing careers.

Go to http://www.facebook.com/JordanIvesRacing and "like" his page to start following what is likely to be a long and successful racing career.

14-year-old Jordan Ives (#18) of Gladstone is in the lead during his semi-feature race Friday in Norway.