The NASCAR and short-track racing community is mourning the death of Mike Miller, a highly respected Midwest stock car racer who built a remarkable career across local tracks, the ARTGO Challenge Series and the American Speed Association.
Miller died on September 29, 2026, following a battle with cancer. He was 80.
Although Miller made only two NASCAR Cup Series starts, his impact on short-track racing extended far beyond his limited NASCAR schedule. Over several decades, he became one of the most accomplished drivers on the Midwest racing scene, collecting roughly 116 feature victories.
Mike Miller’s Racing Career Began in Minnesota
Miller began racing stock cars as a hobby in the early 1970s while living in New Prague, Minnesota. He competed at tracks including Shakopee Raceway Park and Elko Speedway before making his appearance at the Oktoberfest 200 at Interstate Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin, in late 1971.
By 1972, Miller was competing regularly in late-model racing. He initially drove a 1969 Mercury before moving to a 1970 Mustang.
His first major run of success came in 1973, when he won NASCAR late-model features at Raceway Park and Elko. Later that year, he made headlines at the National Short Track Championship at Rockford Speedway by defeating six-time track champion Joe Shear by half a lap.
Miller eventually moved to Wisconsin Rapids, putting himself closer to one of the country’s strongest late-model racing regions.
A Standout on Wisconsin’s Short Tracks
Miller established himself as a major figure on Wisconsin’s short-track circuit, competing against notable drivers such as Dick Trickle, Tom Reffner, Larry Detjens, Jim Back and Dave Watson.
His list of accomplishments included multiple track championships. In 1976, Miller captured titles at Dells Motor Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway. He later added two more championships at Golden Sands, two at State Park Speedway and another at Capital Super Speedway.
His feature-win totals included:
- 27 victories at Golden Sands
- 25 victories at State Park
- 23 victories at Dells Raceway Park
- 18 victories at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway
- 9 victories at Capital Super Speedway
Those numbers helped establish Miller as one of the most successful drivers of his generation on the Midwest short-track scene.
Mike Miller and the ‘World’s Ugliest Racecar’
Miller entered the ARTGO Challenge Series in 1978, working with Bob Uhlir to build a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass through Mil-Lir Engineering.
The unusual car became one of the most recognizable aspects of Miller’s career. Its distinctive, extended nose prompted NASCAR legend Bobby Allison to nickname it “The World’s Ugliest Racecar.”
Despite its unconventional appearance, the car was highly competitive.
Miller earned his first ARTGO victory in the Wayne Carter Classic at Grundy County Speedway in Illinois. He eventually finished his ARTGO career with five victories and won the Wayne Carter Classic twice.
Miller’s American Speed Association Success
Miller also competed in the American Speed Association during the 1970s and 1980s before becoming a full-time ASA competitor from 1993 through 2001.
During his ASA career, Miller recorded 16 victories.
His strongest championship campaign came in 1999. Miller won five races that season and finished second in the championship standings, ending the year just six points behind the series champion.
That season further demonstrated that Miller remained a competitive force well beyond his early short-track years.
Mike Miller’s Two NASCAR Cup Series Starts
Miller’s NASCAR Cup Series career consisted of two starts, both coming in 1980.
He drove a Ford at Charlotte and Atlanta, giving him the opportunity to compete at NASCAR’s top level.
While his NASCAR Cup Series statistics were limited compared with his extensive short-track résumé, Miller’s influence was much broader. Much of his legacy was built at regional tracks, where he became a familiar and respected competitor among drivers and fans.
NASCAR Community Pays Tribute to Mike Miller
News of Miller’s death prompted tributes throughout the racing community.
Former NASCAR driver and broadcaster Kenny Wallace remembered Miller alongside other Wisconsin racing figures who had died in recent years, including Dick Trickle and Tom Reffner.
Wallace wrote on X that it was difficult to comprehend seeing so many of his racing heroes pass away, while remembering Miller as one of the Wisconsin greats.
Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Mark Martin also responded to a tribute about Miller, saying that he remembered him and that the loss was difficult.
Other tributes highlighted Miller’s influence away from the racetrack as well.
Greg Campbell, a machinist at Werner Machine, recalled how much Miller taught him about racing and how working for Miller helped open doors throughout his own career.
Mike Miller’s Legacy in Stock Car Racing
Mike Miller may not have accumulated hundreds of NASCAR Cup Series starts, but his racing legacy was built through years of competition at short tracks across the Midwest.
His approximately 116 feature victories, multiple track championships, five ARTGO wins and 16 ASA victories tell the story of a driver who consistently competed at a high level across several forms of stock car racing.
His career also connected different generations of racers, from Wisconsin short-track stars to NASCAR names who later remembered him.
Miller’s death marks the loss of an important figure from the Midwest stock car racing community. His achievements at regional tracks, his memorable ARTGO car and his determination across decades of competition will remain important parts of his racing legacy.
Leave a Reply