Stan Kalwasinski Photography
Kaukauna, WI- A pair of Twin 50’s was swept by Dick Trickle on Memorial Day of 1984 at Wisconsin International Raceways during what was the first of many ARTGO Challenge Series Memorial Day programs at the D-shaped oval. This Memorial Day Monday, WIR owner Dan Vandaalwyk and ARCA Midwest Tour owner Gregg McKarns look to re-establish the tradition their fathers started 35 years ago. The Monday afternoon special event will feature the Super Late Model ‘Stars and Cars’ of the ARCA Midwest Tour and the top weekly drivers in Triple 50 Feature events as well as the Midwest Truck Series and Mid-American Stock Car Series, racing is set to begin at 2pm.
The twin 50 lap format was a staple during the early ARTGO/WIR Memorial Day Special Events. Trickle and Michigan standout Butch Miller would be unbeatable in those early runs following Trickle’s 1984 dominance, the two would split the 1985 event, with Miller capturing both 1986 checkered flags before the pair once again split feature wins in 1987.
Throughout the years, many of the Midwest’s top drivers competed in these events, with names like Shear, Holzhausen, Hansen, Carlson, Weber, Cywinski and Hoffman all adding their names to the record books (Thanks to Stan Kalwasinski for his record keeping) all collecting wins in the annual stop. All told, a dozen different drivers have recorded Memorial Day wins, including the first ARTGO wins for ‘The Indiana Outlaw’ Bobby Blount and former NASCAR Busch Grand National driver Jason Schuler.
Spectator Gates will open at noon on Monday with qualifying beginning at 12:30pm. Racing action will begin at 2pm, with a 50 lap Midwest Tour Feature, 50 lap Feature for the weekly competitors with the top 10 finishers from each feature being placed into a 50 lap, $5,000 to win Finale to conclude the racing program. Preliminary and Feature events for the Midwest Trucks and Mid-American Stock Cars will fill the afternoon racing program. Adult general admission tickets are $20 with ages 12 and under admitted free. Wisconsin International Raceway is located at W1460 County Road KK in Kaukuana, WI, for more information visit www.wirmotorsports.com or call 920-759-7456. The Midwest Tour will be in action this Saturday night at Jefferson Speedway prior to Monday’s WIR event and will then head to the Milwaukee Mile for a Father’s Day Special 100 lap contest on Sunday June 16, more details are available at www.midwesttour.racing.
PAST Memorial Day Winners at Wisconsin International Raceway
YEAR DRIVER(S) LAPS SANCTION
1984 Dick Trickle (2) 50 ARTGO
1985 Butch Miller, Dick Trickle 50 ARTGO
1986 Butch Miller (2) 50 ARTGO
1987 Butch Miller, Dick Trickle 50 ARTGO
1988 Butch Miller, Steve Holzhausen 50 ARTGO
1989 Scott Hansen, Joe Shear 50 ARTGO
1990 Joe Shear 125 ARTGO
1991 Butch Miller 125 ARTGO
1992 Tom Carlson 125 ARTGO
1993 Bobby Blount 150 ARTGO (Raindate Aug)
1994 Jim Weber 100 ARTGO
1995 Kevin Cywinski 100 ARTGO
1996 Joe Shear 100 ARTGO
1997 Steve Carlson, Jason Schuler 50 ARTGO
1998 Steve Holzhausen 150 NASCAR
1999 Scott Hansen 200 NASCAR
2000 Eddie Hoffman 200 NASCAR
2001 Steve Carlson 300 NASCAR
2004 Steve Carlson 200 NASCAR (Raindate June)
ALL-TIME MEMORIAL DAY WINS
Butch Miller- 6
Dick Trickle- 4
Joe Shear- 3
Steve Carlson- 3
Steve Holzhausen- 2
Scott Hansen- 2
Tom Carlson- 1
Bobby Blount- 1
Jim Weber- 1
Kevin Cywinski- 1
Jason Schuler- 1
Eddie Hoffman- 1
