08/15/06

Miller Gunning For Better Finish In Made In America 300

    Junior Miller has a pretty impressive racing resume. He’s won just about everything possible to win racing Modifieds south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
    There is a glaring hole in that resume though – the Made In America Whelen 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
    And while the NASCAR Whelen Modified events at Martinsville Speedway have been dominated by northern drivers for quite awhile, Miller likes his chances in this year’s Made In America Whelen 300, set for Saturday, Sept. 2 under the lights.
    “We’re going up there with every intention of winning that thing and sending them boys back up the road,” said Miller, referring to his northern counterparts.
    The Made In America Whelen 300 is the only “combination” event of the season, with teams from both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour entered.
    Miller is the King of the Southern Modifieds. He won the inaugural Whelen Southern Modified Tour championship a year ago behind three victories. He’s won probably more than 200 Modified races in his career, including a record 64 at storied Bowman Gray Stadium.
    And despite having turned 55 years old last spring, Miller can still get the job done behind the wheel of the Advance Auto Parts-sponsored Riggs Racing Modified.
    “We’ve had a real good season so far,” Miller said recently. “We’ve won three tour races and five races at the stadium. We’ve got a real good point lead at the stadium and a good lead on the tour. If everything keeps going the way it is, we should have a real big year.”
    Miller ran strong in the first Made In America Whelen 300 a year ago, battling inside the top 10 late in the race.
    “We had a car good enough to win the Martinsville race last year. David Riggs and his bunch had a super good car for me,” recalled Miller. “We were like third or fourth fastest in practice, but we qualified back around 20th.
    “We came all the way back and were passing for fifth and a (northern) guy just cut me off,” said Miller. “Sometimes I think them boys up there think we’re pinballs and kinda kick these Southerners around a little, but we’re going up there with the intention of maybe kicking them around a bit this year.”
    Regardless of how strong he runs or where he finishes, Miller believes fans will witness a typical Martinsville Modified battle under the lights.
    “Man, that was the real deal in Martinsville last year,” said Miller, the elder statesman and most prolific winner of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
    “NASCAR came on board and Martinsville put us in there for their first race under the lights and it seemed like we were at Daytona in a Cup car. That was a super night and the fans had a real good show. We’re going to go back up there and make sure the fans get another good show.”
    The first on-track action for the Made In America Whelen 300 will be a 90-minute practice session at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1. Time trials are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. followed by an autograph session in the infield.

    Happy hour is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2. The 50-lap Chatlee Boats last chance race is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the Made In America Whelen 300 set to take the green at 8:30 p.m.

    Tickets for the Made In America Whelen 300 are $20 and may be purchased in advance by calling 877.RACE.TIX or visiting www.racetickets.com online. Tickets for pole day are $5 and may be purchased the day of qualifying.

Source:  Mike Smith/Martinsville Speedway PR
Posted:  August 15, 2006