1983 - Back's First ARTGO Win Nets Dells Midwest Championship

 

Jim Back scored his first career ARTGO feature victory and captured the overall title in the Midwest Championships at Dells Motor Speedway. – Lowell Dalsoren Photo

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (September 18, 1983) – The senior member of the “Wisconsin Gang,” Jim Back nailed down two firsts and a fifth-place finish in 50-lap feature races during the weekend’s ARTGO Racing late model competition to capture the overall title in the two-day, 12th annual Midwest Championships at Dells Motor Speedway.

Starting the weekend still looking for that first ever ARTGO win, the 49-year-old Vesper resident ended the wait in Saturday night’s 50-lapper. Piloting his 1981 Camaro, Back wasted little time, grabbing the lead on lap 3 and going on to take the checkered flag.

Ranked 16th in the ARTGO point standings, Back became the tenth different feature winner in ARTGO competition this season.

Trailing Back, who was this year’s Dells track champion, in Saturday’s 50 were Steve Holzhausen, Tom Reffner, fastest qualifier Bob Iverson, and Al Schill.

Sunday afternoon, Tom Reffner won the opening 50-lap feature. The two-time ARTGO titlist wheeled his 1981 Camaro to his second ARTGO feature win of the year.

The 42-year-old Reffner took over the top spot on lap 38 and went on to record his 14th career ARTGO main event. Chasing Reffner at the end were Bobby Gunn, Holzhausen, Iverson, and Back.

In the 50-lap Sunday matinee, Back would get around race leader Al Schill on lap 35 and then maintain a half-a-straightaway for the remaining circuits to score his second ARTGO feature win. Gunn, Tony Strupp, Holzhausen, and Reffner would round out the top five.

Bryan Reffner, the 19-year-old son of Tom, score the win in the 50-lap late model semi-main.

Results –

Saturday –

1. Jim Back, Vesper
2. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor
3. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
4. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh
5. Al Schill, Franklin
6. Bob Iverson, Hyde, Mich.
7. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton
8. Tom Musgrave, Glenview, Ill.
9. Mel Walen, Shakopee
10.Bob Gunn, Madison


Sunday –

Feature #1 –

1. Tom Reffner
2. Bob Gunn
3. Steve Holzhausen
4. Bob Iverson
5. Jim Back
6. Rich Bickle Jr.
7. Steve Carlson, La Crosse
8. Joe Shear, Beloit
9. Al Schill
10.Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.

Feature #2 –

1. Jim Back
2. Bob Gunn
3. Tony Strupp, Slinger
4. Steve Holzhausen
5. Tom Reffner
6. Ted Musgrave
7. Joe Shear
8. Rich Bickle Jr.
9. Tom Musgrave
10.Bob Iverson