NMARHoF member spotlight
Mitch Miller
Robert Mitchell “Mitch” Miller saw his first midget race at
age 10 and it seemed inevitable that he would become a renowned midget racing
promoter. Mitch’s career began in 1965 when he assumed the public relations and
advertising roles for the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association
(RMMRA). One night in Casper Wyoming he
filled in for Hall of Famer Bill Hill as the announcer which soon led to Mitch becoming
the announcer at Lakeside Speedway in Denver as well as for the RMMRA races.
In 1970, Miller took
the reins as President of the RMMRA an office he held until 1978. While he was
the RMMA President Mitch helped to promote a “challenge race” between the RMMRA
and St. Louis Auto Racing Association (SLARA) held on the famed Belleville High
Banks in Belleville Kansas. In 1978, with the cooperation of North Central Kansas Free Fair Board, Miller presented the first Belleville
Midget Nationals in 1978 and he promoted the Nationals through 1995.
From that first event won by RMMRA’s Eddie Jackson, the race on the
Belleville High Banks quickly grew and became one of midget auto racing’s crown
jewels. After seven terms as RMMRA President, Mitch Miller founded the Southwest
Independent Midget Series (SWIMS) Tour in 1981 with five-year run of races throughout
the Texas and Arkansas area. In 1983, Miller founded the American Independent
Midget Series (AIMS) that promoted races for many years throughout the Midwest
and Southwest United States.
In 1987, Miller helped Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards organize the first Chili Bowl Nationals midget race and served as the race’s first announcer. Mitch Miller has been honored many times for his lifetime of achievements. He was the second recipient of the Les Ward Memorial plaque which recognized his good sportsmanship in the sport of midget auto racing.
In 1999 Miller was inducted into the Belleville High Banks Motorsports Hall of Fame and in 2010 the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame. We are proud to have Robert “Mitch” Miller as a member of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
In 1987, Miller helped Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards organize the first Chili Bowl Nationals midget race and served as the race’s first announcer. Mitch Miller has been honored many times for his lifetime of achievements. He was the second recipient of the Les Ward Memorial plaque which recognized his good sportsmanship in the sport of midget auto racing.
In 1999 Miller was inducted into the Belleville High Banks Motorsports Hall of Fame and in 2010 the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame. We are proud to have Robert “Mitch” Miller as a member of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
