ARTGO
Encyclopedia
The ARTGO Challenge Series was a United States midwest late model short track racing series that ran from 1975 until 1998. Many race car drivers have used the ARTGO series as a stepping stone to get into ASA, ARCA, and NASCAR. A guy by the name of Art Frigo created the series with the help of Bob Roper and John McKarns. He came up with the name by taking his first full name and the last two letters of his last name, coming up with the name ARTGO. The first race was held on September 7, 1975 at the Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois
. The inaugural Wayne Carter Classic was won by Tom Reffner. Frigo sold the series to John & Sue McKarns in 1979. In 1998 the McKarns licensed the name to NASCAR
and NASCAR took full control of the series. The series went through different name changes with different title sponsors including the RE/MAX Challenge Series, International Truck & Engine Midwest Series, and finally the AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series. Under the NASCAR era the series had identical rules to three other NASCAR regional series (Northwest, Southeast and Southwest). In 2006, after dwindling car counts and lack of races on the schedule NASCAR finally shut down the AutoZone Elite Division. To replace the NASCAR Midwest Series, the ASA Midwest Tour
was created in 2007 by Racing Speed Associates, LLC as a new touring series that was similar in format to the former ARTGO Challenge Series.
Morris, Illinois
Morris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census.Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area...
. The inaugural Wayne Carter Classic was won by Tom Reffner. Frigo sold the series to John & Sue McKarns in 1979. In 1998 the McKarns licensed the name to NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and NASCAR took full control of the series. The series went through different name changes with different title sponsors including the RE/MAX Challenge Series, International Truck & Engine Midwest Series, and finally the AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series. Under the NASCAR era the series had identical rules to three other NASCAR regional series (Northwest, Southeast and Southwest). In 2006, after dwindling car counts and lack of races on the schedule NASCAR finally shut down the AutoZone Elite Division. To replace the NASCAR Midwest Series, the ASA Midwest Tour
ASA Midwest Tour
The American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour Presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment is a pavement Super Late Model Touring Series based in the Midwest United States...
was created in 2007 by Racing Speed Associates, LLC as a new touring series that was similar in format to the former ARTGO Challenge Series.
Past ASA Midwest Tour Champions
- 2010 Steve CarlsonSteve CarlsonSteven Edward Carlson is a retired American ice hockey forward and a former minor league hockey coach.Carlson was born in Virginia, Minnesota. He appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the Hanson Brothers...
- 2009 Steve CarlsonSteve CarlsonSteven Edward Carlson is a retired American ice hockey forward and a former minor league hockey coach.Carlson was born in Virginia, Minnesota. He appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the Hanson Brothers...
- 2008 Dan Fredrickson
- 2007 Nathan HaseleuNathan HaseleuNathan Haseleu is a racecar driver from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He competed in the Craftsman Truck Series, and now competes in the ASA Midwest Tour, the CRA Super Series, and the Wisconsin Challenge Series....
Past NASCAR/Midwest Champions
- 2006 Tim Schendel
- 2005 Justin DiercksJustin DiercksJustin Diercks is an American racecar driver from Davenport, Iowa. He previously drove the #70 car for ML Motorsports. He made his Busch Series debut in 2006 in the Circuit City 250 at Richmond International Raceway. He made a total of seven Busch Series starts in 2006 with a best finish of 28th....
- 2004 Justin DiercksJustin DiercksJustin Diercks is an American racecar driver from Davenport, Iowa. He previously drove the #70 car for ML Motorsports. He made his Busch Series debut in 2006 in the Circuit City 250 at Richmond International Raceway. He made a total of seven Busch Series starts in 2006 with a best finish of 28th....
- 2003 Steve Carlson
- 2002 Steve Carlson
- 2001 Steve Carlson
- 2000 Steve Carlson
- 1999 Brian Hoppe
- 1998 Steve Carlson
Past ARTGO Champions
- 1997 Eddie Hoffman
- 1996 Steve Carlson
- 1995 Kevin CywinskiKevin CywinskiKevin Cywinski, born March 16, 1965 in Mosinee, Wisconsin, is a former NASCAR driver. He competed in the Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 1998 and 1999, as well as some races in the Busch Series. After leaving NASCAR, he went back down to the short-track ranks. He won the ASA championship series...
- 1994 Steve Carlson
- 1993 Jim Weber
- 1992 Jim Weber
- 1991 Steve Carlson
- 1990 Steve Carlson
- 1989 Joe ShearJoe ShearJoe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races...
- 1988 Butch MillerButch Miller (racing driver)Butch Miller is a racecar driver. He drives the #07 Toyota Tundra part time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on a limited basis, and is also a crew chief for SS-Green Light Racing. He is a multiple champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association stock car series...
- 1987 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1986 Joe ShearJoe ShearJoe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races...
- 1985 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1984 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1983 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1982 Jim SauterJim Sauter (NASCAR)Jim Sauter is a former NASCAR race car driver from Necedah, Wisconsin.-Racing career:Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified at Raceway Park in Savage, Minnesota. He moved up to late models the following year. Sauter moved to Wisconsin, and his career took off after he won the North Star 500...
- 1981 Jim SauterJim Sauter (NASCAR)Jim Sauter is a former NASCAR race car driver from Necedah, Wisconsin.-Racing career:Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified at Raceway Park in Savage, Minnesota. He moved up to late models the following year. Sauter moved to Wisconsin, and his career took off after he won the North Star 500...
- 1980 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1979 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1978 Tom Reffner
- 1977 Dick TrickleDick TrickleRichard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
- 1976 Dave Watson
- 1975 Tom Reffner