Who Knew NASCAR Once Had A Midget Car Division?

I knew of the Indy Car style "Speedway" division in 1952-53but until now had never heard of the Midget Car division. There aren't many details of the NASCAR Midgets I could find online, but I came acrossa list of season champions someone posted on another forum -

1953 Nick Fornoro Sr
1954 Chuck Arnold
1955 Fred Meeker
1956 Fred Meeker
1957 Jim Whitman
1958 Johnny Coy
1959 Jim Whitman
1960 Bernie Wilhelmi
1961 Ed McVay

These articles are about a race at Greensboro Fairgrounds on June 8, 1956. Unfortunately it ended in tragedy -

updated by @robert-mitchell: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Have you read this: Nascar Big Car And Midgets Races
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?105672-Nascar-Big-Car-And-Midgets-Races
Thread: Nascar Big Car And Midgets Races
Check out the Thread Replies:
04-12-2008 11:19 AM #11 thru 04-26-2008 05:15 AM

http://www.champcarstats.com/

Robert, Robert, Robert!!! Whilepolitical correctness is NOT required here, "vertically challenged" is much more appropriate than "midget". There were quite a number of short guys who ran NASCAR. Look at some of the guys now, how small they are!!!

Tim

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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.

I didn't know that either! Cool!

Hey guys and gals, great info. I did know this and have a midget entry blank, and cap. The only other print material I have seen is a record/rule book from either 55 or 56, can't remember, but I know that I did not win the bidding on it. There is a program too that I have with the midgets running Raleigh, and I think Greensboro and Champion. Have to check and post you a pic. May take me a while though.

Thanks everyone for your replies, and my apologies for not responding back sooner! I've been in the middle of moving.

Dennis - thanks for digging around for more info. That was one of the only sites I found too.

Tim - you're funny! So many drivers look larger than life on TV but nearly qualify as midgets in real life. Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon come to mind.

Billy Biscoe - I don't know why your post was deleted but I'm glad Pkl quoted it so I could read it. Thanks for the great info, and please post some photos of the midget car.

N.B. - I would love to see the program with the midget racing so please post it when you can.

If I am not mistaking they ran a race at Darlington also. Seems like Tim Flock was telling a story about it onetime and this would have been sometime in the early to mid 50;s.

I Attended the June Race in Greensboro. The one that Reynolds was killed. I'll never forget it, because Ralph Ligorie went to the car owner and while wiping the blood from the seat begged him to let him finish the race. We all were a little crazy back then!