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Seventh place finish in Chico and heat race win in Tulare highlight weekend for Brett Miller
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA - April 1, 2007... Chico’s Brett Miller and Care Free Pools Racing came into the weekend looking to gain more laps and experience, and they did it on a pair of very challenging race tracks. Both surfaces were nearly complete opposites, but the 17-year-old completed every lap of the feature both night’s and as the season goes on that will pay huge dividends.
Friday night kicked off the battle for the 2007 Silver Dollar Speedway track championship. 27 cars were hand for Point Race #1 and Brett began the night by qualifying the Care Free Pools, Care Free Custom Graphics, Jandy Pools No. 1x, seventh quick overall with a 12.885. He then lined up fourth in the opening heat race and scored a third place finish to transfer into the main event.
The 25 lap feature saw Brett starting on the outside of the third row. The Silver Dollar Speedway surface remained hooked up and fast all night, but had developed ruts in certain places which made it very treacherous. The competition at the first point race was extremely stout and Brett remained right around the top five for the whole race. "The Catfish" was hauling the mail into the turns and was up on the wheel of the Wolfe Electric, Aspire Homes, Al’s Concrete Maxim. Most competitors fought a tight condition as the track had so much grip and Brett was doing the same as he wrestled the 1x machine to a seventh place finish. Completing the race was a feat in itself as the demanding track took its toll on a number of drivers.
On Saturday Care Free Pools Racing made the five hour drive south to Tulare for Golden State Challenge Series Round #6 at the Thunderbowl Raceway. This was Brett’s second time running the 1/3 mile speed plant but this was his first time competing at the Thunderbowl with a 410. Last October he competed at the Trophy Cup and finished just a few spots shy of making the 40 lap Saturday night feature in his very first attempt at the track.
Brett began the night by turning a fastest lap 13.894 in qualifying, placing him 18th quickest.
He then started on the front row of the second heat race and took the lead at the waving of the green flag. Brandon Wimmer, last weeks winner in Placerville, moved into second and began to hound Brett for the lead. Every lap the two were nose to tail and Brett kept his cool running his own race. Wimmer tried everything to get by Brett but "The Catfish" kept with his nickname and ran the bottom to perfection as he held off the former World of Outlaw regular to pick up the heat race win aboard the Platinum Powder Coating, JP’s Paint & Body Works, A1A Performance Muffler No. 1x. The victory gave Brett his third heat race win of the season, which is more than any other driver so far this year with the Golden State Challenge Series.
The track for the 30 main event was a tough one as it had dried out and the bottom was the only place to be. Brett started way back in the 15th position and after 30 laps he brought the Care Free Pools machine home in 15th. Thunderbowl Raceway doesn’t become one lane very often so it was odd that the track didn’t develop a high side for the feature. Still, Brett was able to complete every lap and gained the experience of running with the 410 at the track, which will make him and the team even better prepared when GSC makes the trip back down to Tulare later this month for the Pombo/Sargent Classic.
This coming weekend will be another double header of action for Brett and the Care Free Racing team. Friday night we’ll be at Silver Dollar Speedway for Point Race #2 and on Saturday it will be off to the Antioch Speedway for Golden State Challenge Series Round #7.
It will be Brett’s first time running the Antioch Speedway bullring. Track prep is always a thing to watch for in Antioch as it usually becomes a tough track pass on come feature time. Starting up front in Antioch is big and the team has been doing a great job so we’ll see how it goes.
For more info on Brett Miller and Care Free Pools Racing visit http://www.brettmillerracing.net
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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