Racing Career - Mike Groff.

Racing Career:

Entered first race at age 10. Won in quarter midgets and Karts 1973-1980.

1981 - Began racing midgets and was awarded Rookie of the Year at Ascot Park.

1982 - Named most improved Midget Driver at Ascot Park, scoring three wins.

1983 - Ran USAC midget series. Scored two wins at Road America in Formula Ford Competition.

1984 - Moved up to Formula Russell series, finishing second at Riverside.

1985 - Full season of Super Vee winning at Mid-Ohio and Sanair. Won Rookie of the Year title.

1986 - Ran development program for American Racing Series Buick VE. Won ARS and Super Vee races at Milwaukee- first driver to do so. Also won at Road America.

1987 - One of five drivers tabbed for future stardom by On Track magazine. Ran ARS races for Pat Patrick. Won Nazareth and recorded five more Top Five finishes.

1988 - Earned Top Five finishes in two of five ARS events entered. Went from last to fifth at Road America. Finished second in closest race in ARS history - 0.028 second at Nazareth. Passed CART Rookie test in Dick Simon prepared 1987 Lola.

1989 - American Racing Series champion. Won ARS races at Phoenix, Milwaukee, Meadowlands and Nazareth. Earned three poles and nine Top Five finishes. Led 56% of all racing miles. Won Univision/Budweiser Triple Crown.

1990 - Runner-up for CART. Rookie of the Year after moving into the IndyCar ranks. Top finish in twelve starts was a seventh at Nazareth. First IndyCar race as at Detroit.

1991 - Finished sixteenth in points starting thirteen of seventeen events. Top finishes were a trio of eighths at Australia, Toronto and Road America. Qualified eithteenth at first Indianapolis 500 finishing twenty fourth with a water leak. Drove for Euromotorsport Racing in first half of the season. Named by A.J.Foyt Jr to drive Copenhagen Racing Chevrolet Indy V8 at road courses.

1992 - Started at Milwaukee and New England for Euromotorsport; at Elkhart Lake for Walker Motorsport and at Mid-Ohio, Nazareth and Laguna Seca for A.J. Foyt. Best finish of the year was eighth at Laguna Seca.

1993 - Signed to drive for Rahal/Hogan Team in selected races as well as test driver for new Honda powered Lolas.

1994 - Competed in all sixteen races for Rahal/Hogan Racing. Season and career best finish came at Phoenix where he was placed sixth. Struggled most of the season as he and team mate Bobby Rahal developed the Honda engine. Announced he would not return to the team in 1995.

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