The History of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame 

The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame was founded in 1984 following a suggestion put forth by John Stiles, owner of the Indianapolis Speedrome. It began as the AAA/USAC Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Stiles, a midget racing enthusiast since his youth, had been presenting USAC midget racing events at the Indianapolis Speedrome on a regular basis and felt that a “Hall of Fame,” or its equivalent, should be established for the purpose of preserving the heritage of the sport he so cherished, as well as for perpetually recognizing outstanding people within it whether they be drivers, car owners, builders, race organizers, officials or anyone else whose accomplishments and/or contributions were deemed exceptional.
With USAC officials in full agreement, a panel was duly created for the purpose of drawing up a list of potential nominees, after which ballots were mailed to voting members. It was agreed that while ten persons would be inducted at the inaugural ceremonies (five from AAA, five from USAC) only four would be named annually thereafter, thus precluding the supply of “obvious” choices from becoming depleted too rapidly. USAC Historian Donald Davidson and Dick Jordan oversaw the project.
Saturday night, September 17, 1984 marked the occasion of the 4th annual running of John Stiles’ ambitious 500-lap Midget Classic at the Speedrome and the electricity in the air just before the start that night proved absolutely ideal for the inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremonies that took place.
The induction ceremonies continued to precede the start of the Speedrome 500-lapper until that event was no longer held. In 1990 the ceremonies were conducted at the soon-to-be-razed Ascot Park Speedway in Gardena, California, during the running of the traditional “Turkey Night Grand Prix.”
Other venues have been utilized in the years since the much-lamented closing of Ascot Park soon after the 1990 presentations. Since then ceremonies have been held during the “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at the Saugus, Bakersfield and Irwindale Speedways in California, the “Hoosier Dome Invitational” in Indianapolis, 16th Street Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and during the “Hut Hundred” at the Terre Haute Action Track.
USAC, as the caretaker of the Hall of Fame since it’s founding in 1984, saw the membership grow to sixty-six. The induction committee created a truly National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame during the fifteen years under USAC’s guidance.
In 1995 Ed Watson and artist Larry Wright developed the idea of special brass plaques as the centerpiece for a Hall of Fame permanent display and the first book on the Hall of Fame was produced.
In March of 1997, with the departure of Donald Davidson from USAC, the duties of the chief operating officer of the AAA/USAC National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame were turned over to Ed Watson, who coordinated the functions of the Hall of Fame as an independent contractor in USAC’s behalf.
In April of 1999 the United States Auto Club transferred the property rights of the AAA/USAC Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame to the induction committee in an effort to allow for the expansion and the building of a permanent Historical Display for a National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
“It is quite evident that the Hall of Fame has grown to the point where it not only can, but should stand on it’s own,” said USAC’s John Capels. “USAC is proud of the institution that is the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the part we have played in it. We feel this move will be beneficial to both parties.”
On April 2, 1999 the transfer papers were signed by Mr. Capels and Ed Watson. Of the seventeen members of the Induction Committee, eleven elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the new National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Corporation. Bill Hill was elected as President, Dick Jordan the Secretary and Les Kimbrell the Director of Financing with Ed Watson serving as the Executive Director. The Board of Directors for the new corporation were: Dave Argabright, Jim Chini, John Cooper, Earl M. Krause, Bill Marvel, Pat Sullivan, Crocky Wright, and Larry Wright. Attorney James Bruner and CPA James Martin made up the advisory Board.
On January 18, 2001 the contract was signed that made Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin the home of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Historical Display.