1983 - Wallace Overall Winner in ARTGO Grundy Go

Rusty Wallace (66) combined first, second, and fourth place finishes to take the overall title in the ARTGO Racing "Fall Nationals" at Grundy County Speedway. – Stan Kalwasinski Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Morris, Ill. (October 9, 1983) – Aided by a win in the first of two 50-lap features Sunday afternoon, Rusty Wallace emerged the overall winner of the two-day ARTGO Racing Fall Nationals, which brought down the curtain on the traveling circuit’s 1983 season.

Dick Trickle captured the event’s opening night 50-lap headliner on Saturday night and Frank Gawlinski took top honors in Sunday’s concluding 50-lapper.

Trickle, the 41-year-old racing legend from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., wheeled his 1983 Firebird to a record 13th ARTGO feature win of the season. Trickle, who had wrapped up a unprecedented fourth series driving title prior to the program, had about a two-car length lead over Wallace at the checkered.

Trailing the lead duo after 50 circuits was Rich Bickle Jr., Mel Walen, Al Schill, and Dave Weltmeyer.

Wallace, appearing in his first ARTGO event of the year, nailed down the victory in Sunday’s opening 50-lap contest. To secure the triumph, the 27-year-old Valley Park, Mo., pilot had to hold off the repeated challenges of Gawlinski, the weekend’s fastest qualifier.

At the finish, Wallace’s Camaro was six-car-lengths ahead of Gawlinski, Tracy Schuler, Weltmeyer, Trickle, and Walen.

With the victory, Wallace became the 11th different ARTGO feature winner this year. His only other ARTGO feature win came in 1978.

The weekend’s final feature saw Gawlinski pick up his third series win of the season. The 36-year-old Lynwood chauffeur wheeled his 1982 Firebird to the victory over Trickle, Jim Weber, Wallace, and Walen.

After taking over the lead on lap 9, Gawlinski ran a strong race and maintained a healthy advantage over Trickle throughout much of the contest, but Trickle would close the gap in the closing stages.

At starter Bill Gronley’s checkered, Gawlinski’s margin over Trickle had been shaved down to three-car-lengths.

The overall Fall Nationals standings found Wallace in first place, followed by Trickle, Gawlinski, Walen, and Weltmeyer.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Rusty Wallace, Valley Park, Mo.
3. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton, Wis.
4. Mel Walen, Shakopee, Minn.
5. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
6. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey
7. Frank Gawlinski, Lynwood
8. Burt Weitemeyer, Lansing
9. Steve Seligman, Wheeling
10.Bill Sontag, Joliet

Feature #2 –

1. Rusty Wallace
2. Frank Gawlinski
3. Tracy Schuler, Lockport
4. Dave Weltmeyer
5. Dick Trickle
6. Mel Walen
7. Al Schill
8. Burt Weitemeyer
9. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
10.Rich Bickle Jr.

Feature #3 –

1. Frank Gawlinski
2. Dick Trickle
3. Jim Weber
4. Rusty Wallace
5. Mel Walen
6. Tracy Schuler
7. Dave Weltmeyer
8. Al Schill
9. Burt Weitemeyer
10.Bill Sontag

Frank Gawlinski (14) and Rusty Wallace (66) battle it out during ARTGO Racing's "Fall Nationals" at Grundy County Speedway. Each driver would score a feature win with Wallace winning the overall title. - Stan Kalwasinski Photo