8/3/2006
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Darren Miller Cruises to Cedar Lake Speedway Masters Win
NEW RICHMOND, WI (August 3, 2006)- Darren "The Thriller" Miller led from start-to-finish Thursday night to win the Masters 50, a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series co-sanctioned event at Cedar Lake Speedway. The event originally schedule as part of the traditional Masters weekend in June, but was postponed due to rain following the completion of qualifying races.
The Milledgeville, Illinois driver started on the inside pole and flawlessly worked through lapped traffic over the final circuits to score his first career Lucas Oil Dirt Series win. We had a good race car again tonight, commented Miller. Since we came up here in June and won at Menomonie (June 14), weve had top threes and top fives every night out in this car. Actually, the car was a little too tight to run through the black well, added the winner. But overall, I would say it was right for tonight.
Millers NAPA Auto Parts/Rocket/Pro Power Ford Taurus powered to the advantage at the drop of the green flag, with outside front row starter Brian Birkhofer running in his tracks as the pair raced through turns one and two on the opening circuit.
A three-car tangle, involving Brady Smith, Chris Simpson and Al Humphrey, slowed the field on lap two, but when racing resumed, Miller again darted to the advantage, with Birkhofer, Indiana driver Scott James, and Brian Harris in hot pursuit. The front-runners moved in on slower traffic by lap ten, with Miller continuing to hold a slim advantage over the second-place running Birkhofer. The pair used the top side of the well-groomed three-eights mile race track to move through traffic, with Miller racing to an advantage of a half-dozen car lengths by the races midpoint.
With Miller continuing to widen his lead in congested traffic, local favorite Jimmy Mars, who had started eleventh, powered to the inside of James to grab third on lap 26. By lap 30, the 29-year old Illinois chauffer had roared to a seemingly comfortable advantage of ten car lengths, before Birkhofer began a late-race charge in his Daufelt Transport/Rocket/Pro Power Chevrolet Monte Carlo. With a half-dozen laps remaining, Birkhofer pulled in behind the race leader as the duo powered through turns three and four, and then, with a pair of laps to go, mounted a strong run out of turn two to challenge Miller in heavy traffic in turn three.
Miller was able to use the slower cars to his advantage though, and stormed out of turn four a pair of car lengths ahead of Birkhofer as the white flag was displayed. You never know whats going on behind you, noted Miller of Birkhofers late-race challenge. Its always easier to run second than be out there in the lead. We were in such heavy traffic there and you hate to get into trouble with lapped cars, he added. Its way easier chasing a guy than leading in that situation and I really dont know if he (Birkhofer) was better in the end or if we were better, but we got the paycheck and thats what counts.
Miller took the checkers a short distance ahead of Birkhofer to grab the $10,000 win, with Mars finishing a comfortable distance ahead of James and Donnie Moran for third. The event was co-sanctioned by the World Dirt Racing League.
Race Summary Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, WI August 3, 2006
Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): 1. Kerry Hansen (Spencer, WI), 2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, IN), 3. Scott Cramer (Random Lake, WI), 4. Brent Laursen (Osceola, WI), 5. Steve Hucovski (Maple Grove, MN), 6. Mike Nutzman (New Richmond, WI), 7. Al Humphrey (Giltner, NE), 8. Eric Pember (Pittsville, WI), 9. Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA), 10. Rob Moss (Iowa City, IA), 11. Andrew McKay (Edina, MN), 12. Tom Nesbitt (Thunder Bay, ON), 13. Jeff Provanzino (Hibbing, MN), 14. Brent Larsen (Lake Elmo, MN).
Penske Shocks Second B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance):1. Pat Doar (New Richmond, WI), 2. Lance Matthees (Winona, MN), 3. Jeep VanWormer (Pinnconing, MI), 4. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI), 5. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN), 6. Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI), 7. Chris Simpson (Marion, IA), 8. John Seitz (Bemidji, MN), 9. Michael England (Slick Rock, KY), 10. Jeff Keeney (River Falls, WI), 11. Stewart Hayward (Calgary, AB), 12. Jason Utter (Columbus Junction, IA), 13. Trent Follmer (Elk River, MN), 14. Mike Hesselink (Deer Park, WI).
Pole Dash: 1. Darren Miller (Milledgeville, IL), 2. Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine, IA), 3. Brian Harris (Davenport, IA), 4. Scott James (Bright, IN), 5. Steve Laursen (Cumberland, WI), 6. Donnie Moran (Dresen, OH), 7. Matt Miller (Waterville, OH), 8. Justin Fegers (Mound, MN).
Masters 50: 1. Darren Miller, 2. Birkhofer, 3. Jimmy Mars (Menomonie, WI), 4. James, 5. Moran, 6. Earl Pearson, Jr. (Jacksonville, FL), 7. Harris, 8. Matt Miller, 9. Owens, 10. Steve Laursen, 11. Fegers, 12. Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN), 13. Joey Jensen (Forest Lake, MN), 14. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 15. Dave Eckrich (Cosgrove, IA), 16. Denny Eckrich, 17. Doar, 18. Hansen, 19. Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN), 20. Matthees, 21. Brady Smith, 22. England, 23. Bloomquist, 24. Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN), 25. Humphrey, 26. Simpson.
Race Statistics: Number of Entrants: 47 Lap Leaders: Darren Miller (1-50) Time of Race: 22:30.603 Margin of Victory: .791 Caution Flags: 1 (lap 2) Red Flags: 1 (lap 2) All-Star Performance Performer of the Race: Darren Miller K&N Engineering Clean Pass of the Race: Jimmy Owens Weld Wheels Award: Michael England Hawk Brake Tough Break Award: Jason Utter Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie-of-the-Race: Steve Casebolt Lucas Oil Provisionals: Brady Smith, Michael England (Based on June 16 Series Points) WDRL Provisionals: Denny Eckrich, Al Humphrey (Based on June 16 Series Points) Track Provisionals: Scott Bloomquist, Chris Simpson (Based on August 3 Points)
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields