To My Fellow Racers:
If you receive this letter it is because you are a fan of or involved in the most exciting sport in the world (I think)..AUTO RACING! Through the years there have been so many great race car drivers and the purpose of THE NATIONAL MIDGET AUTO RACING HALL OF FAME is to recognize those drivers both from the past and present who have given so much to midget racing and overall to the Sport of AUTO RACING. Each year we honor those who have been chosen worthy of being recognized and inducted into the NMARHOF at the yearly induction ceremony and dinner held in Tulsa, OK. in conjunction with the CHILI BOWL. The 2013 National Midget Hall of Fame luncheon will be held on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.
We help finance this yearly event through ticket sales and by asking the people who share our love for the sport by asking them to sponsor a table of 10 people. The cost has not gone up through the years and is still $500.00. With your $500.00 purchase of a table for 10, you will get a 1/2 page ad in the program and the reward of knowing you have stepped up to support and help the sport we all love so much. We also are looking for door prizes for the raffle held at the event.
It is so important to be able to honor the new inductees as well as to keep the memory of those who have been inducted in the past alive in our hearts. In all the years the NMARHOF has been honoring midget racers, this year is probably the most important one because of the current state of auto racing in the United States.
Please let me know ASAP if you are able to help us honor those race drivers who are so deserving of this honor and preserve the memory of the past and present. I know you share my passion for racing and I ask you as a friend, acquaintance or just another person who loves racing. I can be reached by phone at 209 601 7223, email..racerindy@aol.com or
US mail, 2923 Snow Brook Ct., Stockton, CA.
Dennis Johansen
1-209-601-7223
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In a National Speed Sport News poll taken four years ago, the top ten midget drivers of all time were voted on by the readership, and according to that vote, the results are:
Mel Kenyon 18%
Rich Vogler 13%
Bob Tattersall 11%
Bill Schindler 4%
Shorty Templeman 3%
Jeff Gordon 3%
A.J. Foyt 3%
Dutch Schaeffer 2%
Jimmy Davies 2%
Of these “Top Ten”, seven went on to make the Indianapolis 500. All but Bob Tattersall, Jeff Gordon, and Dutch Schaeffer saw action at the Indy Oval. The NSSN goes on to say that 49 different midget drivers received votes as the best midget driver of all time. Three drivers easily outdistanced the field, and at several points as the votes rolled in, Kenyon, Vogler and Tattersall were tied as the best. But in the end, Kenyon received the most votes, with Vogler and Tattersall close behind. Others receiving votes included (alphabetically): Fred Agabashian, Tony Bettenhausen, Billy Boat, Billy Cantrell, Danny Caruthers, Jerry Coons, Jr., Johnny Coy, Dave Darland, Len Duncan, Ted Duncan, Nokie Fornoro, Stan Fox, Steven Graham, Perry Grim, Sam Hanks, Allen Heath, Jack Hewitt, Parnelli Jones, Danny Kladis, Jud Larson, Jason Leffler, Johnny Mauro, Johnny Parsons, Ralph Pratt, Troy Ruttman, Bob Ryan, Lowell Sachs, Ron Schuman, Joe Sostillo, Tony Stewart, Paul Stoehr, Ted Tappett, Ron “Sleepy” Tripp, Bill Vukovich, Bob Wente, Tony Willman, Wally Zale.
TNG question: Can any readers inform me who Steven Graham, Bob Ryan, and Paul Stoehr were? In all my reading, their names have never come up. Thanks for your help.
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