Old Milwaukee 200

The Old Milwaukee 200 refers to a series of historic American open-wheel and stock car races held at the Milwaukee Mile, located at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin. The events were primarily sponsored by Miller Brewing Company, under branding such as Miller High Life, Miller American, and Miller Genuine Draft.^[1] Over several decades, these races became staples of U.S. motorsport, featuring competition from USAC, CART, and later IndyCar.

The Milwaukee 200 events hosted both open-wheel racing, including USAC Championship Cars and CART/IndyCar competition and USAC Stock Car races in earlier years. The Milwaukee Mile is one of the oldest continuously operating motor speedways in the world and was known for its flat, one-mile oval layout, which produced close, technically demanding racing. The track’s lack of banking placed a premium on car setup, tire management, and driver skill, contributing to its reputation for competitive and often unpredictable races. Sponsorship by Miller Brewing led to various official race names over time, including the Tony Bettenhausen 200, Miller American 200, and Miller Genuine Draft 200.^[2]

• 1963 Tony Bettenhausen 200: Jim Clark won driving a rear-engined Lotus, lapping the field and marking a turning point in American open-wheel racing.^[3]
• 1987 Miller American 200: Michael Andretti won after a competitive race involving Roberto Guerrero and Mario Andretti.^[4]
• 1991 Milwaukee 200: The Andretti family achieved a rare 1st–2nd–3rd finish, with Michael, Mario, and John Andretti.
• 1996 Miller Genuine Draft 200: Michael Andretti claimed another victory, followed by Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy.^[5]