August 10, 2005;  West Salem, WI  - The inaugural ARTGO “Reunion 100” will be run Sunday afternoon October 9th at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds as the 36th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend wraps up.

The distance and prize money for the race has been increased dramatically and the event will follow the same 1997 ARTGO format which drew a record 86 late models to the scenic Western Wisconsin Speedway. Terry Baldry won that event over Jim Weber, Mark Eswein, Joe Shear and Ron Breese, Jr.

“This will mark the return of the straight frame rail car to a big super late model race at Fest,” ARTGO President John McKarns announced. McKarns who now resides in Florida, also is president of MotorSports Management Services which holds the lease on the speedway. The century run will pay $4000.00 to the winner and $400.00 to start.

“This is what the fans want to see, this is what the racers want,” McKarns continued. “Fans can come for the whole weekend, camp-over and see all styles of stock cars in action including the Big 8 Series, the A.S.A. Late Model 100 on Friday night, the AutoZone 200 on Saturday night and this big race on Sunday.”

The four day event will have at least 15 divisions in action and over 500 racecars participating. Days and division tentatively include: Thursday October 6- LaCrosse Sportsman, Thunderstox, Double O, Run All Your Stuff and a 75 lap four cylinder enduro. The Friday October 7 divisions will include the ASA Late Model Series (100 lap main), Area Sportsman and the Central Wisconsin Late Models. The Saturday October 8 schedule of events will include the NASCAR Auto Zone Touring division (200 lap main), Mid American cars, Mid American Trucks, and qulifying races for the ARTGO reunion 100. Sunday October 9 will see the ARTGO reunion (100 lap main), Big 8 series Late Models, LaCrosse Late Models and Modifieds. Sunday’s Artgo Reunion race will be run under Wisconsin Late Model rules on Hoosier 3035 and 3045 tires.

From 1987 through 1997 the Oktoberfest Late Model finales were sanctioned by the ARTGO Challenge Series. In that 11 year period, Joe Shear won four times, Tom Carlson claimed victory twice and single triumphs were turned in by Dick Trickle, Ted Musgrave, Scott Hansen, Matt Kenseth and Baldry.

Entry forms, camping information, a detailed event schedule and fan brochures will be available in late August by calling the Speedway at 608-786-1525.

Racing starts at 7pm on Thursday October 6th, 6 o'clock Friday, 4 o'clock Saturday and noon on Sunday. “We're racing an hour earlier on Saturday this year to fit everything in,” McKarns concluded.