Contact
Kari Shear-Carlson
kari@arcamidwesttour.com
When Midway Machine wanted to gain some exposure, a few things came to mind. The ARCA Midwest Tour presented by Scag Power Equipment and Lester Buildings, the Oktoberfest racing weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, and a driver who could represent them well and they would be proud to support. It wasn’t too difficult to figure out the best combination.
Colin Reffner, grandson of racing legend,Tom Reffner, is looking forward to carrying the Midway Machine sponsorship on his #87 Chevy SS for the 44th Annual Oktoberfest 100 on Saturday and Sunday, October 5th-6th.
Dan Sommers and Royce Rossier of Midway Machine knew that this was the perfect opportunity to get their name out there while helping Colin at the same time.
“Oktoberfest and the ARCA Midwest Tour made so much sense from an advertising standpoint because they are both so notable and the event itself has such a rich history. But that’s not the only reason we got involved. Colin is such an incredible racer. I’ve known his family for a long time and it’s great to be able to support him and help him along in his career,” said Sommers.
Colin couldn’t be more appreciative for the opportunity. Sommers and Rossier have been long time best friends of the family and it means a lot to have their support.
“Dan and Royce have helped me out my entire career whether I was racing with family or racing someone else’s stuff. They have believed in me and supported me every step of the way. When I got back to racing a Super Late Model with my family, they were extremely excited for me. It means so much to have really good people like them behind me.”
When Colin talks about racing with his family, it’s a pretty big deal. His grandfather, Tom Reffner was one of the greatest drivers to come out of Central Wisconsin as was his uncle Bryan. Tom won the first recorded Oktoberfest event in 1970, then again in 1975 and 1983. Bryan followed suit winning the event in 1984. Colin would love to carry on the family legacy.
“I’m extremely excited. I think I have a great chance to win Oktoberfest. I’m back with my family. I’ve been running good all year long. I mean, we struggled a little bit earlier, but we’ve been getting better in the longer races, so I think I have a great chance at winning. It would mean a lot to win the race for the family and continue to add the Reffner name to the history books,” said Colin.
Colin knows that it won’t be easy running against the guys in the ARCA Midwest Tour, however.
“It would be absolutely huge to win in the Tour. Those are the best guys from the Midwest and even some of the southern guys that come up, especially the guys who have run in the Tour for years and years. To go out and beat those guys, veterans of that high caliber, would be an awesome feeling and such a great accomplishment.”
Colin was quick to note, however, that to run in the series and against such strong competition, it takes a lot of support not only from his family but from Midway Machine as well.
“Seeing their name on the car and supporting my team and all we’re about is such a huge part of it all. I want to be able to go out and promote them in a professional way. It means a lot. We wouldn’t be able to go to races like the ARCAMT if it wasn’t for people like them (Midway Machine) believing in a team like ours. They’ve been extremely strong supporters of my career and especially this season.”
Colin is also incredibly appreciative for the opportunity to be racing in a family operation.
“My uncle Bryan and my grandpa Tom built an in-house chassis for Reffner Motorsports. It is so cool to be racing out of a shop my grandpa Tom ran out of in the 70’s. I cannot thank my family, my mom and dad, uncle Bryan and aunt Reyne, and of course my grandpa and grandma, enough for the opportunities they have given me.”
In addition to his family and Midway Machine, Colin also extends his thanks to Wagner automotive, B&B Equipment, prosticker.com, D&D Amusements and everyone else who helps and has helped him throughout his career.
The ARCA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest kicks off this Saturday, October 5th with qualifying at 1:05 and full night’s worth of racing. Racing begins at 12:00 on Sunday, October 6th. For a complete detailed schedule of this weekend’s racing log on to arcamidwesttour.com/oktoberfest-race-weekend/
Be sure to follow the ARCA Midwest Tour on Facebook (midwest tour) and Twitter (@midwesttour).
Learn more about the Automobile Racing Club of America Midwest Tour, by logging on to arcamidwesttour.com. For questions call the ARCA Midwest Tour office at (630) 212-6022 or Tim Olson at (612) 327-5831 or Steve Einhaus at (262) 729-4111 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@arcamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@arcamidwesttour.com.
The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned 30 ARCA national champions in 60 seasons since 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 26 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.375 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season.
Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in four professional touring series and local weekly events.
