 NASHVILLE TN (8-11-05) – He’s only 20 years old, but to series regulars, Joey Miller holds the force of a seasoned veteran. In fact, Miller, in his first full year of ARCA competition, has become one of the only drivers in history to pose a serious challenge to six-time and defending champion Frank Kimmel’s championship bid.
The only difference in 2005 – DNF’s. Whereas Kimmel has none, Miller has three. Blown engines were listed as the “Reasons Out” for Miller at Michigan and Pocono. An oil pump failed last week at Lake Erie. Further, Miller was leading at Pocono when the engine let go and running third at MIS before the motor malfunctioned. At Lake Erie, Miller led 80 laps of the 200-lap contest before the pump froze up.
Yes, it’s only speculative, but Miller, given his impressive ’05 stat sheet, could realistically be leading the points headed to Nashville. Instead, he goes in second in command with a 370 points deficit to Kimmel.
But, with eight races remaining on the 2005 schedule, he can still win the 2005 series crown. Mathematically, it’s not over. And, the Country Joe Homes-Eagle Creek Aviation Dodge, with Miller in the seat, has a pretty good record of finishing up front, especially in the Music City.
In seventeen career starts, Miller has only finished outside of the top-10 three times. That’s a pretty impressive stat package for any driver, let alone a rookie. In fact, Miller already has three ARCA RE/MAX Series wins, one each at Berlin, Gateway and Nashville. The Farmington, Minnesota driver won his career-first ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Nashville in 2004 in his first series start. He backed that up with a solid runner-up run at Nashville in the spring.
 Miller has also earned four Pork Pole Awards in 2005—more than any other driver. At the end of the season, the driver with the most Pork Poles will receive the “Pork Chopper,” a customized Harley-Davidson motorcycle, compliments of the National Pork Board.
“I definitely want that Harley,” said Miller. “I want to win that this year.”
And, since blasting into the ARCA RE/MAX Series with his win at Nashville in 2004, Miller has been a victory lane threat no matter the venue.
“This year has been an excellent year so far,” said Miller. “The only thing that has really hurt us this far was the three DNF’s, two of them were for motors blowing up. Otherwise the team has worked really well together and we’ve had all top tens. We still have a shot at the championship.”
And possibly the most telling stat – Miller has led the most laps so far this year: 655 to Kimmel’s 511.
Whether Miller can defeat Kimmel for the 2005 championship remains to be seen. Regardless, he currently leads the Rookie of the Year standings by 34 markers, which is pretty impressive considering that three rookies—Miller, Ken Weaver and Chad McCumbee-- currently rank in the top five in the overall series point standings.
But behind every good driver is a great team, and Miller is quick to point out that success has come with the assistance of a lot of good people in the backgrounds.
 “Our pit crew is something to brag about,” said Miller. “They work out three times a week at the shop. For being a homegrown team battling cup teams they’ve been pretty good.”
And, while an ARCA RE/MAX Series championship and a career in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series remains Miller’s ultimate goals, come August 13th, the red-hot rookie will be focused on one thing—picking up a second electric guitar.
“Any track that you win at and you run well at becomes a special place to run,” said Miller. “I’m kinda excited to go back knowing the worst we’ve ever finished at Nashville was second. I would actually be disappointed if we didn’t win.”
The August 13th ARCA 200 from Nashville Superspeedway, a preamble to the same-day NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota Tundra 200, is LIVE on SPEED Channel at 2 pm Eastern.
CONTACT:
ARCA PR/Media
Office (734) 847-6726
Don Radebaugh (419) 450-0611 (cell)
Jackie L. Franzil (419) 574-2685 (cell) |
