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Six Inductees Announced For National Midget HoF
The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame has named six of the sport’s all-time greats into its 2018 class. The induction will be celebrated on Friday, January 18, at the Tulsa (OK) State Fairgrounds, located adjacent to the Tulsa Expo Center which will be hosting the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals that week.
The Class of 2018 includes (in alphabetical order) Mario Andretti, Tommy Astone, the late Bryan Clauson, the late Kenny Irwin, Jr., the late Bobby Marshman and Mike Streicher.
Each inductee has their own unique timeline to racing stardom.
Mario Andretti is synonymous with American auto racing and has captured the Formula 1 World Championship in 1978 and the USAC National Championships in 1965, ’66 and ’69, along with a 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.
Tommy Astone had an impressive run in the USAC National Midget series from 1974 through 1976, securing seven victories for his team. He finished runner-up in the final USAC National Midget standings in 1973-1974 and third in 1976, and was in victory lane on four occasions.
Bryan Clauson was one of just six drivers to reach 100 USAC feature wins during a career with a whopping 112 wins. His achievements spread across the racing spectrum with three Indiana Midget Week titles to his credit in 2009, 2011 and 2016. Clauson was USAC National Drivers Championship winner in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the 2012 and 2013 USAC National Sprint Car champion; the 2010 and 2011 USAC National Midget Championship. Clauson lost his life in a crash at the 2016 Belleville Nationals at age 27.
Kenny Irwin, Jr. particularly shined in midget racing. He won the 1992 All American Midget Series championship as well as a 1993 USAC season-opening victory at the SkyDome in Toronto. He later 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. 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 upcoming drivers of his era when he passed away in a Champ Car testing crash in 1964 at 28 years old. The son of 1949 AAA East Coast Midget champ and longtime promoter of Pennsylvania’s Hatfield Speedway George Marshman, Marshman 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, winning 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. Streicher remains active in racing to this day as a professor at the University of Northwestern Ohio’s motorsports program to educate future racers and mechanics.
For more information, including event and additional information about the inductees, visit here.
The Class of 2018 includes (in alphabetical order) Mario Andretti, Tommy Astone, the late Bryan Clauson, the late Kenny Irwin, Jr., the late Bobby Marshman and Mike Streicher.
Each inductee has their own unique timeline to racing stardom.
Mario Andretti is synonymous with American auto racing and has captured the Formula 1 World Championship in 1978 and the USAC National Championships in 1965, ’66 and ’69, along with a 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.
Tommy Astone had an impressive run in the USAC National Midget series from 1974 through 1976, securing seven victories for his team. He finished runner-up in the final USAC National Midget standings in 1973-1974 and third in 1976, and was in victory lane on four occasions.
Bryan Clauson was one of just six drivers to reach 100 USAC feature wins during a career with a whopping 112 wins. His achievements spread across the racing spectrum with three Indiana Midget Week titles to his credit in 2009, 2011 and 2016. Clauson was USAC National Drivers Championship winner in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the 2012 and 2013 USAC National Sprint Car champion; the 2010 and 2011 USAC National Midget Championship. Clauson lost his life in a crash at the 2016 Belleville Nationals at age 27.
Kenny Irwin, Jr. particularly shined in midget racing. He won the 1992 All American Midget Series championship as well as a 1993 USAC season-opening victory at the SkyDome in Toronto. He later 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. 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 upcoming drivers of his era when he passed away in a Champ Car testing crash in 1964 at 28 years old. The son of 1949 AAA East Coast Midget champ and longtime promoter of Pennsylvania’s Hatfield Speedway George Marshman, Marshman 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, winning 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. Streicher remains active in racing to this day as a professor at the University of Northwestern Ohio’s motorsports program to educate future racers and mechanics.
For more information, including event and additional information about the inductees, visit here.
November 2018
