ARTGO

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.

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 ARCA Midwest Tour (ASA Midwest Tour 2007–2012) 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. The ARTGO series had drivers like Paul Menard, Matt Kenseth (2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion), Butch Miller, Dick Trickle, Joe Shear, Jim Sauter, Eddie Hoffman, Steve Carlson, Kevin Cywinski, Jim Weber, Justin Diercks, Tim Schendel, Jason Schuler and Jeff Frederickson.

Past ASA/ARCA Midwest Tour Champions

 * 2017 Ty Majeski
 * 2016 Ty Majeski
 * 2015 Ty Majeski
 * 2014 Ty Majeski
 * 2013 Dan Fredrickson
 * 2012 Jonathan Eilen
 * 2011 Andrew Morrissey
 * 2010 Steve Carlson
 * 2009 Steve Carlson
 * 2008 Dan Fredrickson
 * 2007 Nathan Haseleu

Past NASCAR/Midwest Champions

 * 2006 Tim Schendel
 * 2005 Justin Diercks
 * 2004 Justin Diercks
 * 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 Cywinski
 * 1994 Steve Carlson
 * 1993 Jim Weber
 * 1992 Jim Weber
 * 1991 Steve Carlson
 * 1990 Steve Carlson
 * 1989 Joe Shear
 * 1988 Butch Miller
 * 1987 Dick Trickle
 * 1986 Joe Shear
 * 1985 Dick Trickle
 * 1984 Dick Trickle
 * 1983 Dick Trickle
 * 1982 Jim Sauter
 * 1981 Jim Sauter
 * 1980 Dick Trickle
 * 1979 Dick Trickle
 * 1978 Tom Reffner
 * 1977 Dick Trickle
 * 1976 Dave Watson
 * 1975 Tom Reffner