Education
His first attempt at the National Championship was in 1967, and he finished eighteenth.
His first attempt at the National Championship was in 1967, and he finished eighteenth.
Midget car racing
He began his racing career at the Badger Midget Racing Association at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He had 1968 midget wins at Hales Corners Speedway in Hales Corners, Wisconsin and at the Sycamore, Illinois track. His come back in Midgets started in 1981 driving for Sandy Racing.
Universal Service Administrative Company/CART
He raced in Universal Service Administrative Company and CART in 17 seasons (1968–1983 and 1985), with 104 combined career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 every year during 1974-1982.
He finished in the top ten 39 times, with his best finish in second position in 1978 at Texas World Speedway and Milwaukee. Bigelow started in nine straight Indianapolis 500 races between 1974 and 1982.
His best finish was sixth in 1977. Sprint car
He became the leader in Universal Service Administrative Company Sprint car single season wins with 14.
Return to midget cars
He finished fourth, third, and ninth in the following three season.
National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing
Tom made a single National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing start at the 1986 Atlanta Journal 500 at the Atlanta International Raceway, and he finished 40th with engine problems. He was a 2002 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame at his home track in Sun Prairie. Bigelow was inducted in the National Sprint Carolina Hall of Fame in 1996.
Starting in 2009, Bigelow was a color announcer for Fox Sports Network for Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series television coverage.