|
Jeremy Miller Racing
GETTYSBURG, Penn. (April 14) - Jeremy Miller's dream finally came true.
After coming close to a coveted victory in a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event on several occasions last year, Miller broke through in a big way to win Friday night's 50-lap 'Rumble on the River IV' at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va.
The 37-year-old driver from Gettysburg, Pa., worked hard to score his first career triumph on the tough national tour. He drove his Buckler Motorsports No. 24 past the red-hot Billy Moyer for the lead on lap 35 and held off defending series champion Steve Francis to pocket a $10,650 check - and celebrate arguably the most meaningful win of his life.
"It means so much to me to win a World of Outlaws race," said Miller, who led Francis under the checkered flag. "Just being able to challenge these Outlaw guys is a pretty cool deal for me. They're the best in the business.
"It was definitely an honor to race for the lead with Billy because he's been running so good this year. Billy always told (Charles) Buckler (Miller's car owner) that he could run 100 laps side-by-side with me. I've tried to earn his respect, and we raced hard, we raced clean.
"I'm happiest for all the people who support me," he continued. "I have great car owners (Charles and Genny Buckler) and they deserve this - I just wish I could've done it for them last year. And there's all my crew guys, who are all weekend racers and work so hard on the car, and everything that my parents and my wife Julie do to help me."
Miller also gave special thanks to his sponsors, a group that includes Complete Flooring, USA Spares, Inc., Rocket Chassis, Bullock Race Engines, Miller Fabrication Inc., Torco Race Fuels, Genesis Racing Shocks and American Racer Tires.
Miller won in his first start of the season driving a brand-new Rocket car. The machine was basically a twin to the style Rocket that WoO LMS regular Chub Frank drives.
"When I ordered new cars from Rocket I'd always get a different type of car than Chub got," said Miller. "He'd always say, 'Why don't you get a car like mine?' Well, I didn't know what kind of car Chub has, but when I ordered this one I told them to build one just like Chub's."
The car was just like Chub's - right down to the placement of the pedals. Since Miller is several inches shorter than Frank, he had to move the seat forward in the car to comfortably reach the pedals with his feet.
"I think it says a lot about Rocket Chassis that we were able bring a car right out of the box and win with it," said Miller. "I also can't say enough about our Bullock motor - Bullock has given us a motor to race with these guys - and I hope we showed that American Racer has a pretty good tire."
Hot off his WoO LMS victory, Miller headed to The Rock/Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, Md., for the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) season opener on Saturday night. He timed second-fastest and finished third in his heat race, but he slipped backward slightly from the third starting spot in the 50-lap feature to place fifth.
"I think we went a little hard on tires," said Miller. "That was a little disappointing coming off the win the night before, but I guess if you think you picked the wrong tires and you still run in the top five, then you're doing pretty good."
Miller will continue a busy week of action by entering two more World of Outlaws events - Tuesday night (April 15) at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and the Circle K Colossal 100 on April 18-19 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
For more information on Jeremy Miller, visit www.jeremymiller24.com.
|
