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Wayne Carter Classic Notes & History

Tom Reffner, of Rudolph, Wis., won the ARTGO Racing Wayne Carter Classic at the Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill. The 59-lap race, honoring Wayne Carter, who brought auto racing to the Grundy County area, highlighted the Sunday afternoon program, which was the first ever ARTGO event. September 7, 1975 saw Reffner and his ’74 AMC Javelin defeat Bob Roper and Joe Shear. Reffner is seen after his victory being congratulated by Art Frigo. (Stan Kalwasinski Photo)

This Saturday night, the ARCA Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment will make their annual visit to Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois for the Wayne Carter Classic presented by Rod Baker Ford & Illinois Truck Equipment.

Over 30 Super Late Model drivers have pre-entered for the 2018 running of this historic event. They are going after a purse that will pay $750 to start and $5,000 to win.

Spectator gates will open at 4:30pm with qualifying at 5pm. An autograph session will follow qualifying with racing starting at 7pm. The Mid-Ams, Midwest Compacts and Illini Midgets will also be in action this Saturday night.

Admission is: Adults (18+) – $20.00, Seniors (62+) – $18.00, Student (12-17) – $10.00, Children 11 & under are Free.

ARCA CRA Super Series Champion Files an Entry

Former ARCA CRA Super Series champion Johnny Van Doorn has filed an entry for the Wayne Carter classic. This will be his second appearance in the ARCA Midwest Tour this season. He competed in the Joe Shear Classic back in May where he was the fast qualifier and finished 14th in the main event that was won by Austin Nason.

89 Points Separate Top-10 in Season Standings

The Wayne Carter Classic marks the halfway point of the 2018 season for the ARCA Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment. There is already a tight point battle where the final five races could be very competitive to crowning a champion at the end of the season.

Austin Nason holds a 12-point lead over Casey Johnson in the standings heading into the Wayne Carter Classic.  Paul Shafer Jr. is third 27 points behind Nason. Dalton Zehr is only 28 points back while Andrew Morrissey if 59 points behind the leader.

ARCAMT’s Ironman and 2013 Wayne Carter Classic winner Jonathan Eilen is sixth only 63 points back. Billy Mohn leads the rookies as he seventh in the standings and shares it with John DeAngelis, both are only 72 points away from Nason. Justin Mondeik is ninth, only 88 points back and Rich Bickle Jr. rounds out the top-10 only 89 points behind the two-time winner this season.

Wayne Carter Classic Past Winners

The Wayne Carter Classic dates back to the first running on September 7, 1975 with Tom Reffner winning the inaugural event. The event ran every year until 1999 when Steve Carlson was the last winner. Ricky Baker was the 2017 winner of this event.

The ARCA Midwest Tour resurrected the event in 2011 with Ross Kenseth winning the event. Ricky Baker was the 2017 winner of this event.

Wayne Carter Classic Winners List

1975 Tom Reffner ARTGO 59 Laps (9/7/75)
1976 Dave Watson ARTGO 100 Laps
1977 Larry Phillips ARTGO 100 Laps
1978 Mike Miller ARTGO 100 Laps
1979 Mike Miller ARTGO 100 Laps
1980 Mark Malcuit ARTGO 100 Laps
1981 Larry Schuler ARTGO 100 Laps
1982 Jim Sauter ARTGO 100 Laps
1983 Tom Reffner ARTGO 100 Laps
1984 Dick Trickle ARTGO 100 Laps
1985 Butch Miller ARTGO 100 Laps
1986 Joe Shear ARTGO 100 Laps
1987 Dick Trickle ARTGO 100 Laps
1988 Joe Shear ARTGO 100 Laps
1989 Ted Musgrave ARTGO 100 Laps
1990 Steve Carlson ARTGO 100 Laps
1991 Kevin Cywinski ARTGO 100 Laps
1992 Steve Holzhausen ARTGO 100 Laps
1993 Joe Shear ARTGO 100 Laps
1994 Joe Shear ARTGO 100 Laps
1995 Joe Shear ARTGO 200 Laps
1996 Dave Weltmeyer ARTGO 200 Laps
1997 Joe Shear ARTGO 200 Laps
1998 Eddie Hoffman NASCAR Elite 125 Laps
1999 Steve Carlson NASCAR Elite 150 Laps
2011 Ross Kenseth ASA Midwest Tour 125 Laps
2012 Eddie Hoffman ASA Midwest Tour 100 Laps
2013 Johathan Eilen ARCA Midwest Tr 100 Laps
2014 Chris Weinkauf ARCA Midwest Tr 100 Laps
2015 Eddie Hoffman ARCA Midwest Tr 100 Laps
2016 Ty Majeski ARCA Midwest Tr 100 Laps
2017 Ricky Baker ARCA Midwest Tr 100 Laps

Grundy County Speedway History

Chicagoland racing historian Stan Kalwasinski was gracious to provide us with some great historical moments at Grundy County Speedway. We appreciate his time and insight to share with you.

Track opened on Sunday afternoon, May 30, 1971, with Ray Freeman of Crete, Ill., winning the first late model stock car feature race held.

First Friday night racing program held on June 18, 1971.

Ed Hoffman of Niles, Ill. (late model) and Clem Lewandowski of Joliet, Ill. (six-cylinders) were the first track champions at the speedway.

Ed Hoffman won his first late model stock car feature race at Grundy on June 25, 1971 during his first time there.

Jim Gates won the first midget feature race held (for UARA midgets) on July 3, 1971.

Ray Young won the first ever held 100-lap feature race at Grundy on September 24, 1971.

Larry Schuler won his first late model stock car feature race at Grundy on August 10, 1973.

Grundy was the scene of the first ever ARTGO late model feature held with Wisconsin’s Tom Reffner winning the 59-lap Wayne Carter Classic on September 7, 1975.

Three-time late model champion Mike Whie (1993, 1995 & 1996) won his first career late model feature at Grundy on 7/20/1990.

Two-time late model champion John Brolick (1998 & 1999) won his first Grundy late model feature race on July 3, 1992.

Five-time late model champion Brett Sontag won his first career feature at Grundy in 1992.

John Nutley scored his first career late model win at Grundy on 6/23/1995.

Joe Shear won the first ever held 200-lap feature (for ARTGO late models) on August 6, 1995.

Four-time late model champion Eddie Hoffman won his first career late model stock car feature race at Grundy on June 28, 1996.

Make your plans to join us Saturday night and witness history in person.

Visit midwesttour.racing for a full schedule and be sure to follow the ARCA Midwest Tour on Facebook (/midwesttour) and Twitter (@MidwestTour).