By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Friday, June 20, 2008) – It took less than five weeks of preparation, but Art Frigo along with Bob Roper and John McKarns held the first ARTGO event on September 7, 1975 at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, IL. Today, the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment will bring back the tradition that was started that night as five states will be represented at this Sunday’s ECHO Power Blower 100 presented by ProSource Motorsports and Hype Energy Drink.

“The most significant thing was that it was put together in less than five weeks and we had 49 cars at that event,� John McKarns recalled from his home in Florida. “It was exciting for the Chicagoland fans because it was one of the first times they got to see Wisconsin drivers take on the Chicago area competitors.�

It was Rudolph, WI competitor Tom Reffner taking home the win on that night. But, it was the official start of one of the most storied racing series in the United States.

But, it wasn’t until the second event on May 9, 1976 that would put ARTGO in the history books. “The first event had a nice crowd, wasn’t a huge crowd, but a nice crowd,� McKarns recalled. “The second event had a huge crowd with 44 cars including Bobby Allison. That was the event that put us on the map.� Local favorite Ray Young was the winner of that event.

“Having the Wisconsin drivers come down and compete against the Chicagoland drivers was always a great attraction for the race fans there,� McKarns said.

When you ask McKarns what Grundy event stands out in his mind, he recalls the June 3, 1978 event, “We had a finish like what Erik Darnell and Johnny Benson had this past Saturday in Michigan, but at that time we didn’t have cameras at the start/finish line,� McKarns stated. “It came down to Reffner and Dick Trickle crossing the finish line at the same time and both were declared the winner. It was a dead heat and the only time in ARTGO history where we had two drivers winning the same event.�

Nearly 50 ARTGO feature events took place at the famous 1/3 mile high-banked oval with a who’s who in racing taking a checkered flag.

Last year, the ASAMT brought back the tradition of a high horse powered Super Late Model series action to Grundy with Dan Fredrickson taking home the win after a close hard fought battle with Nathan Haseleu.

“I remember growing up in nearby Seneca and going to those ARTGO events. The series that John McKarns created also created my love and passion for this sport,� Steve Einhaus, ASAMT VP stated. “I know with my job that it will be a tough task to bring back the great tradition that McKarns has started. But we have a great group of drivers and teams that I think will fulfill that task for the fans that will be in attendance this Sunday night.�

On Sunday, qualifying gets underway at 4:00 pm with the popular ASAMT Autograph Session starting at 4:45 pm. First race is at 6:00 pm.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment log on to www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com.

ARTGO/NASCAR Elite Division Feature Winners at Grundy County Speedway
(Courtesy: http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/artgo.htm)

09/10/75 Tom Reffner
05/9/76 Ray Young
08/08/76 Dave Watson
08/08/76 Dave Watson
09/12/76 Dave Watson
06/19/77 Larry Schuler
06/19/77 Dick Trickle
06/19/77 Larry Schuler
07/31/77 Larry Phillips
04/30/78 Dick Trickle
06/03/78 Tom Reffner
06/03/78 Dick Trickle
08/06/78 Mike Miller
08/07/79 Mike Miller
08/12/80 Mark Malcuit
08/18/81 Larry Schuler
04/25/82 Jim Sauter
04/25/82 Junior Hanley
08/17/82 Jim Sauter
04/24/83 Al Schill
04/24/83 Dick Trickle
08/16/83 Tom Reffner
10/09/83 Dick Trickle
10/09/83 Rusty Wallace
10/09/83 Frank Gawlinski
08/14/84 Dick Trickle
04/21/85 Al Schill
08/20/85 Butch Miller
04/20/86 Joe Shear
08/19/86 Joe Shear
04/25/87 Joe Shear
08/11/87 Dick Trickle
04/23/88 Butch Miller
08/09/88 Joe Shear
04/23/89 Joe Shear
08/08/89 Ted Musgrave
04/28/90 Kevin Cywinski
08/14/90 Steve Carlson
04/27/91 Steve Carlson
08/13/91 Kevin Cywinski
04/25/92 Jim Weber
08/11/92 Steve Holzhausen
06/30/93 Steve Carlson
08/10/93 Joe Shear
08/94 Joe Shear
05/21/95 Kevin Cywinski
08/06/95 Joe Shear
05/19/96 Steve Carlson
08/04/96 Larry Schuler
07/13/97 Joe Shear

NASCAR Elite Division

07/19/98 Eddie Hoffman
07/18/99 Steve Carlson
08/07/01 Eddie Hoffman
05/25/03 Ron Breese Jr

ASA Midwest Tour

07/13/07 Dan Fredrickson