National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame

12/22/2022

02/25/2022

02/13/2022

Hall of Fame Member Kevin Olson was killed in a traffic accident, Friday February 11, 2022. He was truly one of the most unique individuals in midget racing. When you saw Kevin coming you always knew he was going to say something or do something to make you laugh. He had a very outgoing personality and was a real talent behind the wheel of a midget. The racing world will really miss Kevin. RIP

01/22/2022

The current list of people who are Members of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
In order for a person to be considered for membership in the hall they must first be nominated by someone. You can start that process by emailing [email protected] and requesting a nomination form.

12/19/2021

Time is running out for you to secure your seat for the 2022 NMARHOF induction ceremonies. Order your tickets today.

02/24/2021

DON MEACHAM

Born in Fresno 1936 this California native started his racing career driving hardtops in 1958 at Kearney Bowl Speedway. By 1960 he was offered a ride in a midget, he competed with BCRA the next few years.

After his father died in 1964 he decided to travel to the Midwest, where he met Mel Kenyon. He credits Mel as being instrumental in introducing him to the car owners. He got his first break in June at the Eldora Speedway, where he posted second quick time. The next month he got his first win at little Springfield in the Saemann-Grabow Offy. He finished 10th in Points that year

He only ran selected races in 1965; in 1966 Myron Caves asked him to drive for him. The team captured the most wins in the 66 USAC season with nine features, he finished third in the overall points right behind Mike McGreevy and Mel Kenyon. After finishing fifth in points in 1967 he received an invitation to run “Down Under” that winter, he participated in the Australian/New Zealand season along with Bob Tattersall and Billy Mehner. Don came home first fourteen times out of the seventeen races he competed in and won the Australian/New Zealand World Championship Race.

When he returned home Don decided to quit running full time. He started a career in the orthopedic business. He still kept active in racing, competing locally with BCRA, driving for Lennie Gonzel.

Over his years in racing Don has driven for some of the great car owners in our sport, Jack London, Doug Caruthers, J.C. Agajanian, Mason Cook, Howard Linne, Harry Turner and fellow Inductee Don Branson.

Don has made many friends along the way with his gentle manner and his ability to promote the sport wherever he traveled.

11/14/2020

The Annual Luncheon Induction Ceremony held Friday during Chili Bowl has been cancelled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the country. We hope to see you all back in 2022.

12/31/2019

The Hall of Fame Board was sadden to hear of the passing of Norm "Zoom Zoom" Rapp on December 28th. He was a great asset to midget racing especially to the members of BCRA. RIP Mr. Rapp

12/24/2019

Merry Christmas from the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame

12/24/2019

Our Induction Ceremony in Tulsa is only a few weeks away.
If interested in attending please contact [email protected]

11/06/2019

We were very sad to hear of the passing of Mike Streicher this morning. He was a champion driver, car owner and mechanic and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.
RIP Mike

10/08/2019

The votes are in. This years Class of 2019 to be inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame include four drivers, one owner and one video photographer/writer.

Nick Fornoro Jr. many time ARDC champion, Bill Homeier whose career spanned from 1946=1961, Mack McClellan who competed from 1977-92 as driver then as owner from 98-99, Chuck Stevenson whose career started in AAA days thru 1968, Dick Wallen film maker and writer, and Greg Wilke who carried on the family tradition as a winning car owner.

These gentlemen will be inducted at our annual luncheon ceremony Friday January 17, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the week of the Chili Bowl.

08/10/2019

It is with a very sad heart we learned of the passing of Dick Jordan. He was one of the more honest and professional people in motor racing. A friend to all. He will be sorely missed. Services for DJ will be on Monday August 12, 2019 at Conkles Funeral Home in Speedway, fromm 5-7 pm, across the street from the USAC building where he worked for 51 years.

04/25/2019

Update on Neal Carter, they will be holding a Celebration of Neal's Life in St. Cridersville, Ohio at Bayliff and Son Funeral Home on Saturday JULY 6, 2019. The family has asked in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, 4967 W 12th Street, Speedway, In 46224.

04/24/2019

Neal Carter, one of the Hall of Fame's oldest members passed away April 23, 2019 . He started out racing motorcycles in the 40's by 1946 switched over to midgets. He was Fort Miami Track Champion 1948 and Detroit City Motor Speedway Champion in 1949,50 and 51. He was also the AAA Ohio/Michigan Midget Champion in 1950. He passed his rookie test at Indy 1951 and competed in 20 Championship Big car races during his career. Here is picture of Neal with his NMARHoF member pin

12/30/2018

Reservation Deadline for Luncheon/Induction Ceremony is tomorrow. Get them in by contacting [email protected] or call 317-697-2230 for all the details.

12/17/2018

Reservations filling up quickly, don't be left out, contact [email protected] for reservations and ticket info. Deadline December 31, 2018.

11/29/2018

Here is a look at the new lapel pin each Hall of Fame member recently received.

11/29/2018

NMARHoF sent lapel pins to Hall of Fame members, here is Neal Carter, 95 years young showing his pin.

11/27/2018

Interested in attending our upcoming induction luncheon and ceremony, contact: [email protected].
Great food, good friends and lots of fun and prizes.

11/26/2018

Only 35 days left: till reservation deadline for tickets to Induction Ceremony

11/26/2018

11/14/2018

The news is out the Hall has released this years inductees. Come help us celebrate at our Induction Ceremony January 18, 2019. If you are interested in attending email [email protected] for all the details

11/14/2018

6 INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED FOR NATIONAL MIDGET HALL OF FAME;
NATIONAL MIDGET HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2018 INCLUDES ANDRETTI, ASTONE, CLAUSON, IRWIN, MARSHMAN, STREICHER
Speedway, In (November 13, 2018)………The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame has named six of the sport’s all-time greats into its 2018 class, which will be celebrated with a luncheon and induction ceremony on Friday, January 18, inside Fair Meadows Hall (Simulcast Building) at the Tulsa (Okla.) State Fairgrounds, located adjacent to the Tulsa Expo Center which will be hosting the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals that week. The doors will open at 11am, with the luncheon beginning at 11:30am (Central).
The Class of 2018 includes (in alphabetical order) Mario Andretti, Tommy Astone, Bryan Clauson, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Bobby Marshman and Mike Streicher.
Synonymous with American auto racing, Mario Andretti has accomplished nearly everything in the realm of motorsport. He was named Driver of the Century by the Associated Press in 1999 and the American Driver of the Century by Racer Magazine in 2000. In his illustrious career, the Italian-born drive who resided in Nazareth, Pa. captured the Formula One World Championship in 1978 as well as USAC National Championships in 1965, ’66, ’69 and the CART title in 1984. He stands alone as the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (1969), Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula One World Championship. His versatility behind the wheel is unquestionable with victories at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1969, the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1967, ’70 and ’72, an IROC series title in 1979 and as a USAC Midget winner in 1966 at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway. He began his open wheel racing career in TQ Midgets with the American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association in 1961 before jumping into full-size midgets with ARDC. On Labor Day weekend in 1963, he won three midgets features in one day at two different tracks: New Jersey’s Flemington Speedway in the afternoon and twin features at Pennsylvania’s Hatfield Speedway during the evening, all driving for the Mataka Brothers, who, from that day forward, always carried the number 3N1 on their cars in honor of the amazing feat.
Though his USAC National Midget career was somewhat brief, Fresno, California’s Tommy Astone had an impressive run between 1974 and 1976, winning seven victories at Burlington, Iowa, Hartford, Mich., Kingsport, Tenn., Sun Prairie, Wisc., Springville, Utah and Kokomo, Ind. and his most notable victory coming in the 1974 Night Before the 500 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, all for car owner Doug Caruthers. He finished runner-up in the final USAC National Midget standings in 1973-1974 and third in 1976. He emerged in victory lane with the USAC Western States Midgets once in 1983 at Ascot Park and on four occasions at Hanford, Calif., Phoenix, Arizona’s Manzanita Speedway and twice at Ventura, Calif. Astone was inducted into Bay Cities Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2009 and competed with the California Racing Association, Astone also scored his lone USAC National Sprint Car victory at New York’s Erie County Fairgrounds in 1976.
No driver fit more racing accomplishments in as short amount of time in USAC history as did Bryan Clauson. The Sacramento, California-born driver who made Noblesville, Ind. his home during his career is one of just six drivers to reach 100 USAC feature wins during a career. His 112 career USAC wins rank only behind racing legends Rich Vogler, A.J. Foyt, Sleepy Tripp, Mel Kenyon and Dave Darland. Thirty-eight of those came in USAC National Midget competition with mega wins at Turkey Night Grand Prix in 2009 and ‘10, the Hut Hundred in 2010, the 4-Crown Nationals in 2014, the Chili Bowl in 2014 and the Belleville Nationals in 2009, ’10 and ’15. His achievements spread across the racing spectrum with three Indiana Midget Week titles to his credit in 2009, ’11 and ’16 and was a star “down under” in New Zealand at Western Springs. His championships run the gamut as the USAC National Drivers Championship winner in 2010, ‘11 and ‘12; the 2012 and ‘13 USAC National Sprint Car champion; the 2010 and ‘11 USAC National Midget Championship. His talents took him to a trio of starts at the Indianapolis 500, the last of which came in 2016 where he led the 100th lap of the 100th running. Clauson lost his life in a crash at the 2016 Belleville Nationals, fittingly while leading the race, at age 27.

Kenny Irwin, Jr. made his mark in every racecar he stepped foot in, but he particularly shined in midget racing. He won the 1992 All American Midget Series championship in the family-owned car where he earned a ton of accolades, including a pair of wins on the high banks of Wi******er (Ind.) Speedway and at Indianapolis Raceway Park, as well as a 1993 USAC season-opening victory at the SkyDome in Toronto. He ventured to Dave Calderwood’s No. 4 in 1995 and continued his winning ways, scoring on the Springfield Mile. He then moved to the famed Steve Lewis No. 9 car where he won twice at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and at South Dakota’s Huset’s Speedway en route to the 1996 USAC National Midget title. He was the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and was twice a winner in NASCAR’s Truck Series. The rising star lost his life in 2000 during a practice crash at New Hampshire International Speedway at the age of 30.
Bobby Marshman was one of the brightest young, upcoming drivers of his era when he passed away in a Champ Car testing crash in the Fall of 1964 at just 28 years old. Despite the briefness of his career, the Pottstown, Pa. driver was a force in racing right from the get-go. The son of 1949 AAA East Coast Midget champ and longtime promoter of Pennsylvania’s Hatfield Speedway George Marshman, Bobby began his midget racing career with ARDC where, in his first season in 1958, he finished third in the standings. He excelled in long-distance midget races, particularly, winning big events at Trenton, N.J. in 1960, ’61 and ’62 at lengths of 300, 250 and 100 miles. The latter two at Trenton served as two of his four career USAC National Midget victories. He also won in USAC Sprint Car, Stock Car and Championship Car competition, winning the 1962 Bobby Ball Memorial at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. He was co-Rookie of the Year with Parnelli Jones at the 1961 Indianapolis 500, starting 33rd and finishing 7th).
Mike Streicher has been a success in nearly all facets of midget racing. The Findlay, Ohio native has won USAC National Midget championships as a driver, car owner, mechanic and car builder. In 1983, he captured his first series title with USAC as a car owner and mechanic for driver Rich Vogler. In 1988 at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway, he won the first of his six career USAC National Midget features and was victorious in the Hoosier Dome Invitational in 1990. The following season, in 1991, Streicher raced to three victories, the USAC National Midget driver title and his third owner championship. He constructed the Hawk Chassis, which raced to countless Midget feature wins in USAC, NAMARS, ARCA, NEMA, ARDC, and others. Streicher remains active in racing to this day as a professor at University of Northwestern Ohio’s motorsports program to educate future racers and mechanics.

09/02/2018

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY NEXT SUNDAY!!!!!

WHO: If you were involved with the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) between 1939 and now the answer to who is YOU. If you know someone who should be at this event but is not on the internet please get a hold of them and pass along this informatiom.

WHAT: The American Racing Drivers Club Reunion.

WHERE: In cunjuction with the Warren Car Show held at the Warren Municipal Grounds at 46 Mountain Blvd. Warren,NJ 07059.

WHEN: Sunday September 9, 2018 from 9am to 3pm.

WHY: Because some of you have not seen each other for many years and we all have good sories to tell and it will be a lot of fun!

There will be no charge to enter the reunion or the car show. The car show does benifit the Warren Fire Companies and if you would like to make a donation to them they would appreciate it,that will be up to you.

When you arrive look for the tent and the ARDC Reunion banner and start having fun.

There will be many restored race cars and street cars on display all day and this event will take place RAIN or SHINE.

Hope that you will be able to join us NEXT SUNDAY!

07/04/2018

Two-time Badger Midget Auto Racing Association Champion Owen Snyder Jr passed away on June 29th at the age of 88. He started racing in 1953 and retired in 1972 after winning his second championship. He had 49 Badger Feature wins to his credit. His two championships came under two names one as Owen Snyder the other as his alias Todd Barton.
Services will be held Monday July 9 at the Newcomer-Silverthorn Chapel on the Hill in Orfordville, Wi. Calling is from 11:00 am until the time of service at 1:30.

06/23/2018

Nomination period for 2018 inductees has closed, the induction committee will now go to work,

01/03/2018

Our Induction Ceremony in Tulsa is just about a week away. Dick Atkins, Roy Bowe, Bill Chennault, Tommy Copp, Billy Eldridge, Burt Foland, Drew Fornoro and Arnie Knepper will all become our newest members in the Hall.

01/03/2018

Happy Birthday and Get Well Soon wishes to member Mike McGreevy

12/31/2017

Wayne Adams
Fred Agabashian
J.C. Agajanian
Floyd Alvis
George Amick
Emil Andres
David “Boots” Archer
Chuck Arnold
Dick Atkins
Lloyd Axel
Carl Badami
Johnny Balch
Johnny Baldwin
Bobby Ball
Henry Banks
Bob Barker
Bob Barkhimer
Buzz Barton
George Benson
Gary Bettenhausen
Tony Bettenhausen Sr.
Billy Betteridge
J. Gordon Betz
Tom Bigelow
Geoge Bignotti
George Binnie
Billy Boat
Tony Bonadies
Al Bonnell
Dan Boorse
Roy Bowe
Johnny Boyd
Don Branson
Ken Brenn Sr.
Ken Brenneman
Jimmy Bryan
Frank Burany
Marvin Burke
Hank Butcher
Vito Calia
Don Cameron
Foster Campbell
Steve Cannon
Bill Cantrell
Duane Carter
Duane “Pancho” Carter
Neal Carter
Mike Caruso
Danny Caruthers
Doug Caruthers
Jimmy Caruthers
Ernie Casale
Bill Chennault
Sim Clark
Gordon Cleveland
Tommy Copp
Johnny Coy
Art Cross
Charlie Curryer
Jimmy Davies
Dominic Distarce
Pedro “PeeWee”Distarce
Kevin Doty
Jay Drake
Floyd “Pop” Dreyer
Len Duncan
Teddy Duncan
Leigh Earnshaw
Rex Easton
Chris Economaki
Vic Edelbrock
Don Edmunds
Lanny Edwards
Edgar Elder
Billy Eldridge
Ray Elliott
Bill Engelhart
Walt Faulkner
Myron Fohr
Burt Foland
Carl Forberg
Drew Fornoro
Nick Fornoro Sr.
Jack Fox
Stan Fox
A.J. Foyt
Billy Garrett
Joe Garson
Fred Gerhardt
Ernie Gesell
Joe Giba
Earl Gilmore
Norm Girtz
Jeff Gordon
Andy Granatelli
Cecil Green
Bob Gregg
Mike Gregg
Perry Grimm
Eddie Haddad
Emmett Hahn
Ted Halibrand
Sam Hanks
Mel Hansen
Gene Hartley
Ted Hartley
Allen Heath
Mack Hellings
Ken Hickey
Bob Higman
Bill Hill
Ron Hoettels
Bill Holmes
Roscoe“Pappy” Hough
Ronney Householder
Dave Humphrey
Tommy Hunt
Eddie Jackson
Parnelli Jones
Page Jones
Dick Jordan
Ed Justice Sr.
Zeke Justice
Wendell Kelly
Don Kenyon
Mel Kenyon
Les Kimbrell
Danny Kladis
Arnold Knepper
Ray Knepper
Steve Knepper
Paul Krueger
Frank Kurtis
Jud Larson
Jason Lefler
Roy Leslie
Steve Lewis
Gib Lilly
Swede Lindskog
Howard Linne
Jack London
Steve Lotshaw
Johnny Mantz
Carl Marchese
Chuck Marshall
Johnny McDowell
Mike McGreevy
Harry McQuinn
Don Meacham
Freddie Meeker
Eddie Meyer
Robert Miller
Jack “Curley” Mills
Johnny Moorhouse
Roy Morrison
Earl Motter
Duke Nalon
Mike Nazaruk
Ray Nichels
Ed Normi
Bob Nowicke
Mike O’Halloran
Danny Oakes
Fred Offenhauser
Kevin Olson
Cletus “Cowboy” O’Rourke
Alex Pabst
Bob Pankratz
Johnnie Parsons
Johnny Parsons
Johnny Pawl
Jerry Piper
Ralph Pratt
Dave Randolph
Norm Rapp
Larry Rice
George Rice
Ray Richards
Jim Rieder
Dick Ritchie
Johnny Ritter
Randy Roberts
Chuck Rodee
Lloyd Ruby
Roy Russing
Paul Russo
Troy Ruttman
Wesley Saegesser
Dutch Schaefer
Bill Schindler
Gordon Schroeder
Les Scott
Joe Shaheen
Bob Shannon
Gene Shannon
Roy Sherman
Ron Shuman
Leon “Jigger” Sirois
Bob Slater
Jimmy Snyder
Joe Sostilio
Tony Stewart
Dave Strickland
Bob Stroud
Len Sutton
Bob Swanson
Paul Swedburg
Ted Tappett
Bob Tattersall
Shorty Templeman
Johnny Thomson
Johnnie Tolan
Sleepy Tripp
Harry Turner
Jack Turner
Bobby Unser
Bill Vandewater
Rich Vogler
Bill Vukovich
Bill Vukovich Jr.
Rodger Ward
Leroy Warriner
Ed Watson
Bob Wente
Chuck Weyant
Jim Whitman
Bob Wilke
Tony Willman
Billy Wood
Ashley Wright
Crocky Wright
Karl Young
Gordy Youngstrom
Wally Zale
Bill Zaring
Arakel “Geo” Zaronian

National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame In order for a person to be considered for membership in the hall they must first be nominated by someone. You can start that process by emailing [email protected] and requesting a nomination form.

12/28/2017

Anyone interested in attending our luncheon Induction Ceremony in Tulsa on January 12, 2018 contact us at [email protected] for information. Always a good time.

12/28/2017

Our Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2017 Inductees is just 2 weeks away.

10/12/2017

Ticket info for Induction Ceremony contact: [email protected]

10/12/2017

We are 3 months away from our annual Induction Ceremony.