Gabe Sommers Racing made the trek to a new stop on the ASA Midwest Tour last weekend, partaking in the Norway 100 presented by Weimer Bearing and Transmission at Norway Speedway, just over the Wisconsin/Michigan border in the Upper Peninsula. The historic ⅓ mile bullring had been host to many exciting events in the past, producing winners like Dick Trickle, Scott Hansen, Matt Kenseth, and more.
GSR unloaded for practice full of optimism with a clean slate at Norway for Gabe, but crew chief Travis Sauter frequented the speedway in the past, earning a win in their “Stateline Challenge” in 2019. The prior experience brought to the table would hopefully give the team a leg up on the rest of the Midwest Tour’s traveling stars. The opening round of practice was quick and easy, with Sommers laying down a 14.547 second lap, good enough for fifth place on the time charts, and within a half tenth of the top of the standings. Some small adjustments ensued in the pits after the No. 15 pulled into the pits, and soon the crew had Gabe ready for the second and final practice session of the day. The changes proved fruitful, with Sommers hopping up to second place on the leaderboard with a 14.336 second lap, over two tenths better than the prior round of practice.
Qualifying would be next on the docket for GSR, something the team has excelled with in recent weeks. Twenty three cars would take time for their placement in the lineup, with a short 100 lap feature event making qualifying all the more important. Ripping off a 14.145 second lap, Gabe would place himself firmly into the runner up spot at the conclusion of qualifying, setting himself up for a solid starting spot for the main event. Sommers would pilot his No. 15 from the tail of the even heat, making his way to sixth place before the conclusion of the ten lap sprint.
Rolling off from the ninth spot for the Norway 100, Gabe would waste no time once the field took the green to start moving and shaking his way up the running order. Moving up one spot in the first lap, the field would be in lockstep, side by side, nose to tail around the tight corners of Norway Speedway. By Lap 30, the field would spread out and allow the drivers to go to work, including Gabe. He’d pick up three spots in just fifteen laps, sitting in sixth place as the field closed in on halfway. A quick caution and retightening of the field pushed Sommers back to seventh, but by the time Lap 75 came around the No. 15 had cracked the top five for the first time in the race. Laying chase to the front quartet of drivers, Gabe would stretch the gap to sixth place to a whopping five seconds, but was unable to get closer than seventh tenths back of fourth.
GSR would cross the line in fifth place with a clean racecar, taking the solid finish as a step in the right direction after moving forward in the latter stages of the race. GSR will look to make some hay in their next race, the Dairyland 100 at Dells Raceway Park on June 28. Qualifying will roll off at 4:30 PM, with racing to follow at 6:00 PM. Make sure to buy tickets to see Gabe battle it out in person, or tune in live on Pit Row TV!