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Photo's by http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
Brett Miller comes up just shy of making first Gold Cup A-main
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – September 16, 2009…Following a runner-up finish during Coke Championship Night at the Silver Dollar Speedway on August 28 Chico, CA's Brett Miller looked to push his way forward at this past weekend's Gold Cup Race of Champions and he proceeded to put together his best career run at the event, ultimately missing out on the A-main by just four spots on Saturday night.
The outing was Miller's first start at the Gold Cup since 2007 after having to miss the event last season and it also marked the final 410 winged sprint car race in Northern California for the year. "Although we would have liked to make the main event this season it was a fun Gold Cup and we can't wait for next year," Miller said. "I have to thank all of our sponsors and my family for giving me the chance to be out here and I'm focused on getting into that A-main next year."
Miller took part in Friday's preliminary action and started off the night strong by timing in 16th out of 41 cars to earn the final spot in the inversion, which is huge in World of Outlaws competition since the top-two finishers in the heat races make the dash. At the waving of the green flag in the fourth and final heat the 20 year-old driver got a great start to rocket out into the lead, however, the caution lights would fly for a spun car to make for a complete restart.
On the ensuring restart Miller looked to try the same move in the first set of corners, but outside front row starter Kyle Harris got a better jump than the first time and used a lower entry. As Miller tried to slide under him contact occurred and it caused the Care Free Pools, Wolfe Electric, Live Energy Drink No. 1x to get sideways and fall back to fifth. "The Catfish" was able to straighten the car out and hold off Midwest driver Wayne Johnson to score the final transfer spot into the main event, where he would eventually go on to finish 18th.
Coming back on Saturday Miller found himself having earned enough points to line-up from the 17th starting spot in the evening's 20-lap b-main. The track surface had remained a bit heavy by this time of the night and it made passing chances a little more difficult to come by, but the Chico driver began to march his way forward and started to put himself in position to fight for a top-four transfer spot. Miller had found the high-side to his liking and made his way up into the sixth position as he closed in on Kraig Kinser and Jayme Barnes.
At one point Miller put his machine on the top of turns one and two and looked to have a chance to charge around the drivers ahead of him, but the rear-end broke loose on the exit of the corner and he couldn't keep his momentum up like needed. It cost him a spot and as the race went on he would lose another position to Evan Suggs, before driving off and crossing the checkered flag in eighth. "We made a nice run in that b-main and were racing with some great drivers so we can't complain," said the Chico driver. "This event is just plain awesome and it was fun to be able to race in front of so many fans."
The next event for Miller and Care Free Pools Racing at Silver Dollar Speedway will be the 18th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals on October 1, 2 and 3. Adult tickets on Thursday and Friday will be $15 with Saturday being $20. The Fall Nationals routinely attracts a huge field of sprint cars and the last couple seasons have featured some of the best racing seen during the year.
For more info on Chico's Brett Miller log onto http://www.brettmillerracing.net and more on the Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals can be found at http://www.silverdollarspeedway.com in the coming weeks.
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Chico's Brett Miller raced his way from 17th to eighth in Saturday night's b-main at the 56th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions, which marked his career best run at the prestigious World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series event
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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Brett Miller shown putting the Care Free Pools, JP's Paint & Body, Simpson Race Products Maxim through its paces during the 56 annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at the Silver Dollar Speedway
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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