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Photo by http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Brett Miller "runs the alphabet" to make it into feature after starting from d-main at 18th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals Saturday night
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – October 4, 2009…Rebounding from a tough preliminary night at the Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday Chico, CA's Brett Miller put on the charge Saturday evening to make an impressive "alphabet soup" run and get into the A-main during the 18th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals.
After starting out the night by winning the d-main on Saturday Miller continued to pass cars for the duration of the event and even got up to as high as fifth at one point in the 40-lap finale. "It was a great run for us and we seem to be at our best when the track gets slick and takes down rubber like it did tonight," Miller said. "The actual finish in the main event wasn't what we wanted, but we can't complain with the performance and just getting into the main event was an awesome thing considering how far back we were to begin the night."
Miller opened up the event by being a part of the Friday prelim at the Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals, but it didn't start off exactly as planned with his fastest lap of 12.178 placing him 26th quickest in the qualifying order. It then stuck him in the fourth row for the heat race and as he was attempting to move forward another car spun sideways in front of him and resulted in Miller clipping the car and getting upside down to bring out a red flag.
With the damage too severe to continue on he was forced to run the b-main and did a great job to charge for a transfer spot, until an issue made the fuel to the car shut off, which caused him to slow and slide off turn two for a yellow flag. He went to the work area and restarted, but didn't have enough time to work his way back to a transfer and crossed the checkered in eighth to put an early end to the night.
Coming back for Saturday's Fall Nationals finale the 20-year-old driver found himself lining-up on the inside of the fourth row in the d-main and he proceeded to carve his way forward for victory to transfer the Care Free Pools, Wolfe Electric, JP's Paint & Body No. 1x into the c-main. Starting from 13th Miller would then have his work cut out for him in the 15-lap contest, but with the track drying out it created multiple grooves to work with and the former Silver Dollar Speedway Rookie of the Year could put his machine on every inch of the quarter-mile clay oval. Working high and low the "Catfish" moved through the pack to score a fourth place finish and transfer into the b-main.
Already having a ton of track time Miller lined-up from the 16th starting position in the semi and was once again able to charge through the field, but also use patience and smart driving to avoid numerous spins and collisions due to the extremely slick conditions. The 20-lapper proved to be a wild affair, as the track continued to change with extremely high winds in the Chico area taking its toll on the surface and at the conclusion of the race Miller would bring home a third place finish to transfer out and continue the amazing night of action.
When the 24-car field came onto the speedway for the A-main it saw the Platinum Powder Coating, Live Energy Drink, Simpson Race Products sprinter line-up from the 12th and final row. With the track taking rubber quickly it made passing fairly hard to come by and made tire wear become a critical factor in the 40-lap race. Drivers were forced to be as smooth as possible on the throttle to conserve tires and the first of the issues was seen just before the halfway point when fourth running Kyle Hirst lost his right rear. Through the early laps Miller was doing a nice job to get around cars when opportunities presented themselves, while at the same time being easy on his tires.
By the time lap 23 came around there were enough caution laps to warrant an open red and during it many drivers decided to change tires however, Miller and the crew didn't and it allowed the No. 1x machine to move up solidly into the top-10 for the restart. When the green lights came back on the youngster began picking cars off and with the race winding down he was able to make the move around two-time Civil War champ Mike Henry to claim fifth.
With less than 10 circuits left though the drivers with fresh rubber started to make things exciting as they fought their way back towards the front. Continuing to battle it out with Henry, Miller would lose the fifth position back to the Sacramento driver after a couple laps and then fall a few more spots, but continue sitting in the top-10 until he got over the edge and spun off turns three and four during the final lap. Unfortunately for Miller he was unable to take the checkered so was officially placed 18th in the rundown, but it still couldn't spoil the outstanding effort for the night put forth by he and the team.
The Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals marks the end of the Silver Dollar Speedway season and Miller's attention will now be focused on the upcoming Trophy Cup at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare. "We've been really quick all year long and I'm really looking forward to the Trophy Cup," said Miller. "I love racing at Tulare, but haven't been there in a while so I can't wait."
For more info on Chico's Brett Miller and Care Free Pools Racing please log onto our website at http://www.brettmillerracing.net
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After starting out in the d-main on Saturday night at the 18th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals 20-year-old sprint car racer Brett Miller proceeded to "run the alphabet" and climb all the way into the A-main. Photo by http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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The next scheduled event for Brett Miller and the Care Free Pools Racing, Christopher Bean Cofee, Al's Concrete No. 1x will be the 16th annual Trophy Cup at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway. Photo by http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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This kid has impressed me more this year, he has come up short on winning races this season but has had great runs at the big races this season. I remember he almost won the last GSC race at Chico finishing second, 3rd place at the Bradway coming from the back, and now making this impressive alphabet run.
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