For Mike Miller, stock car racing began as a hobby, yet he finished with a total of 116 stock car wins across various competitions. Miller, who was battling cancer, passed at the age of 80 on September 29. The news of his death has left the NASCAR world mourning, with racers and fans sharing condolences and their memories of Miller.

“Like sand through a hour glass, these are the days of our lives,” Kenny Wallace wrote on X. “I didn’t think I could ever comprehend ALL my heroes dying. Dick Trickle then Tom Reffner and now Mike Miller 😔 One by one all the Wisconsin greats are leaving us. May the Lord be with everyone ❤️.”

In the 1970s, Wisconsin was the epicenter for short-track late model racing, and Miller drove against the likes of Joe Shear, Dick Trickle, Tom Reffner, Larry Detjens, Jim Back, Dave Watson, and many other legendary racers of that period. 

When he took up stock car racing as a hobby in the early 1970s’, Miller lived in New Prague, Minnesota and raced at Minnesota tracks like Shakoppe Raceway Park and Elko Speedway. In 1971, he competed in the Oktoberfest 200 at Interstate Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin, and by 1972 he became a regular in the late model scene. 

Miller drove a 1970 Mustang to NASCAR late model feature race wins at Raceway Park and Elko in 1973, and in September, he headed to Illinois to compete at Rockford Speedway’s annual National Short Track Championship. He would defeat six-time track champ Joe Shear by half a lap at the banked, quarter- mile oval. 

Fast forward to 1976, Miller won track championships at Dells Motor Speedway and Golden Sands as a way to make his mark in Wisconsin’s short track scene. He would win two more championships at Golden Sands and an additional two at State Park Speedway and a championship at Capital Super Speedway. 

Miller’s win record includes 27 feature races at Golden Sands, 25 at State Park, 23 at Dells Raceway Park, 18 at LaCrosse Fair Grounds Speedway, and nine at Capital Speedway.

Tributes and condolences poured in for Miller across social media. On Facebook, on the All Pro & NASCAR All Pro Racing Series Reunion Page, a tribute was posted on which several folks left comments. 

“I’m so sorry to hear this. Mike taught me so much about racing, and there would be no way to ever repay him,” wrote Greg Campbell, a Machinest at Werner Machine. “Working for Mike Miller opened up so many doors throughout my racing career. All you had to say was, “ I worked for Mike Miller”, and the doors opened up. Race In Peace, Mike.”

“Condolences to his family,” was the comment of a fan on Facebook. “I remember him bringing that Old to the IDC series in the PNW in the Late 70’s early 80’s , ran fast and clean. I still have the hero card.”

That Old referred to in the comment is the 1978 Olds Cutlass that Miller drove in 1978, the same year he began racing in the ARTGO Challenge Series. His first ARTGO win came during the Wayne Carter Classics at Grundy County Speedway in Illinois. Miller finished with five ARTGO wins, including a repeat at the Wayne Carter Classics that year. 

The Olds Cutlass he raced in was one of his most recognizable race cars. Miller designed and built that car along with Bob Uhlir in their joint venture Mil-Lir Engineering. Because of its long droopy nose and rather odd design, NASCAR legend Bobby Allison coined a term for Miller’s car, one that fans still recall dearly. 

“Will forever remember him for ‘The World’s Ugliest Racecar,’ as Bobby Allison so named it,” wrote a fan on Facebook. “Godspeed Racer.”

Not just Facebook; X too was filled with messages. One fan posted pictures of Miller with that same Cutlass with the caption, “Rest in peace Mike Miller 🙏🏻.”

Mark Martin, the most popular NASCAR driver to never win a Cup title, was one of those who raced with Miller. A fan drew Martin’s attention with a post on X. 

“Sad to hear of Mike Miller’s passing. If u ever watched the old ARTGO & ASA Series. Mike was a legend there. He will be truly missed. He was 80 years old. ✝️  Georgia’s own. He was a good one,” wrote a fan on X. “ I’m sure @markmartin has a Mike Miller story or two.”

Martin’s reply was somber: “I sure do. This one hits hard 😔.”

Miller raced in the American Speed Association sporadically in the 70s and 80s before he went full-time in the series from 1993 to 2001. He racked up a total of 16 ASA wins. In the 1999 season, Miller won five races and finished 2nd in the Series, six points away from being the champion. 

Miller also has two Cup starts to his name. In 1980, he drove a Ford at Charlotte and Atlanta. 

Some drivers may not be in the mainstream, but the comments and memories that people shared about Miller show the impact he had on those around him, even if he wasn’t a household racing name competing in the Cup Series.