(From the ARTGO 1983 Yearbook-Special thanks to John McKarns for permission to reprint excerpts)

Making an amazing comeback in the final four specials of the 1982 season, Jim Sauter of Necedah, WI, charged to his second straight ARTGO Racing late model stock car series season championship.

With close title races the rule nationwide this year, ARTGO was no exception with the championship being decided in the 24th and final feature of the weather-plagued season. If NASCAR had a ‘Darrell and Bobby’ season, then ARTGO enjoyed a ‘Jim and Joe’ year.

In the Dells Midwest Championships September 19th, twin 75 lap features highlighted the big card. Joe Shear had a clear shot at his first ARTGO title after Sauter crashed in the opening 75-lapper and failed to finish.

If Shear could win the final 75, Sauter had to finish second to win the title by a mere 5-points, third wasn’t good enough. But Sauter wheeled his battered 1982 Firebird to victory in a close finish to out-point Shear 13,445 to 12, 690 for the crown.

But the drama began to unfold seven weeks earlier when Sauter slammed nearly head-on into a concrete wall at the Wisconsin International Raceway (W.I.R) during a trophy dash in a weekly program breaking his left ankle, tailbone and suffering other injuries and cuts while demolishing his car.

Sauter saw his midseason ARTGO point lead disappear in the next few days as he missed the Escanaba, MI and Elko, MN, dates and Shear bolted into the lead. Sauter then announced from his hospital bed he’d be back for the August 3rd ARTGO/Dixieland Challenge at W.I.R just 8 days later!

The 39-year-old father of 11 returned to W.I.R on crutches and in a cast to compete. The Rod and Gene Wheeler crew not only had a look-a-like new Howe car ready for Sauter, but they had also switched to Baker power for the ‘stretch’ drive.

Sauter was among the fastest in practice, but a 3-½ inch downpour before time trials delayed Sauter’s comeback.

Two weeks later Sauter used the tough outside groove at the Grundy County Speedway to rocket from fifth to first midway through the 8th Annual Wayne Carter Classic to score his first win since the accident and to regain the point lead.

The make-up of W.I.R. special was a classic seesaw battle with Sauter regaining the lead over Shear in the final laps for the 100-lap win.

Darrell Waltrip, running the first V-6 in ARTGO action, was a distant 17th in the same event.

The Labor Day Summer Nationals at the Capital Super Speedway found Shear and Sauter splitting the 50 lap wins. Shear was the over-all Summer Nationals champion for the third time and he drew to within 245-points of Sauter to set the stage for the finale two weeks later at the Dells Motor Speedway.