Fast Facts: Mike Bliss

Mike Bliss has driven in all three of NASCAR’s top tier series, and currently competes in the Nationwide
Series for TriStar Motorsports in the No. 19 Toyota Camry. Learn more about this former NASCAR champ in this week’s Fast Facts.
credit: Getty Images/John Harrelson

  • Michael Bliss was born April 5, 1965 in Milwaukie, Oregon and began racing at age 10, competing in quarter midgets. He later moved into super modifieds, stock cars, sprint cars and midget cars, and found success in USAC’s open-wheel ranks.
  • In 1993, Bliss was the USAC Silver Crown National Champion, a title that has been won by numerous NASCAR drivers, including Ken Schrader (1982), Dave Blaney (1984), Jeff Gordon (1991), Tony Stewart (1995) and Ryan Newman (1999), as well as legendary drivers A.J. Foyt (1972), Al Unser (1973) and Mario Andretti (1974). In 1995, Bliss won seven USAC Sprint Car races, three midget races and one Silver Crown race.
  • Bliss moved on to NASCAR in 1995, driving for Ultra Motorsports in the Craftsman (now Camping World) Truck Series and picking up a win at North Wilkesboro Speedway that year. In 1998, he made his Busch (now Nationwide) Series debut and his Cup Series debut.
  • After splitting time between numerous teams in the Cup Series, Bliss returned to the Truck Series in 2002 and won the championship with Xpress Motorsports. In 2003 and 2004, Bliss drove for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Busch Series program, picking up his first win in the series at Charlotte in 2004.
  • Bliss’ resume includes two Nationwide Series wins and 13 Truck Series wins. He has competed for numerous teams in NASCAR’s top three series in the last 10 years, including Haas CNC Racing, Key Motorsports, Bobby Hamilton Racing, Phoenix Racing, NEMCO Motorsports and Tommy Baldwin Racing.
  • Learn more about Bliss’ team, TriStar Motorsports, at tristar-motorsports.com.  

Fast Facts: Mike Bliss Fast Facts: Mike Bliss Reviewed by Paula on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Rating: 5