Miller Has Caraway Figured Out
Asheboro, NC — Miller won four of the six races at Caraway last year en route to the championship. He won the season opener last year despite a flat front tire in the closing laps. This time around, he had his hands full with NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour veteran Ted Christopher.
“Last year we won with a flat tire and a dominant car; this year we had all our tires but we weren’t so dominant,” Miller said. “I knew Teddy was good. I had to keep it on the bottom.”
Christopher, who won the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour openers in 2005 and 2006 at Caraway, settled for second, followed by Robert Loftin, Tim Brown and Bobby Grigas III.
“The cautions really killed us,” Christopher said. “I was better on the long runs than he was.”
Christopher had a chance on a restart with six to go. He gave Miller a shot as they came off turn 4 to take the green flag, but Miller was able to keep it straight down the front stretch and maintain the lead.
“I knew the shot was coming,” said Miller, who thanked Christopher for racing him clean. “I used it as a momentum boost to drive me off the corner.”
Miller took the lead on lap 64 when he got the jump on race leader Frank Fleming and led the rest of the race.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour is at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. Saturday, March 29.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 Results
Saturday
At Caraway (N. C. ) Speedway
Asheboro, N. C.
Lap length: 0. 455 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) L. W. Miller, Mooresville, N. C. , Pontiac, 150 laps, 69. 702 mph, $2,000.
2. (10) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,500.
3. (5) Brian Loftin, Lexington, N. C. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,125.
4. (6) Tim Brown, Cana, VA. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,350.
5. (12) Bobby Grigas III, Marshfield, Mass. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,000.
6. (9) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn. , Pontiac, 150, $850.
7. (4) Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N. C. , Ford, 150, $750.
8. (16) Matthew Hirschman, Northampton, Penn. , Chevrolet, 150, $690.
9. (1) Frank Fleming, Mount Airy, N. C. , Pontiac, 150, $590.
10. (25) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N. H. , Dodge, 150, $850.
11. (24) Rowan Pennink, Huntington Valley, Pa. , Chevrolet, 150, $525.
12. (26) Brian King, Burlington, N. C. , Chevrolet, 150, $500.
13. (20) Thomas Stinson, Chester, VA. , Chevrolet, 150, $685.
14. (3) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N. Y. , Chevrolet, 150, $460.
15. (21) Brandon Hire, Winston-Salem, N. C. , Chevrolet, 150, $445.
16. (18) Buddy Emory, Petersburg, VA. , Chevrolet, 150, $530.
17. (23) Johnny Sutton, Harrisburg, N. C. , Chevrolet, 149, $420.
18. (22) Zach Brewer, Winston-Salem, N. C. , Chevrolet, 148, $410.
19. (15) John Smith, Mount Airy, N. C. , Chevrolet, 144, $400.
20. (14) J. R. Bertuccio, Centereach, N. Y. , Chevrolet, 139, $390.
21. (13) Jay Foley, Stuart, VA. , Chevrolet, 138, $380.
22. (11) James Civali, Meriden, Conn. , Chevrolet, 138, $360.
23. (17) Bobby Hutchens, Lexington, N. C. , Chevrolet, 134, $340.
24. (19) Junior Miller, Pine Hall, N. C. , Chevrolet, 128, $320.
25. (7) Burt Myers, Walnut-Cove, N. C. , Ford, 104, oil line, $300.
26. (8) George Brunnhoelzl, Babylon, N. Y. , Ford, 100, electrical, $300.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 58 minutes 45 seconds
Margin of Victory: . 213 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: T. Brown (103. 481 mph, 15. 829 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 39 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: F. Fleming 1-29; L. Miller 30; F. Fleming 31-63; L. Miller 64-150.
Standings: 1. L. Miller, 180; 2. T. Christopher, 170; 3. B. Loftin, 165; 4. T. Brown, 160; 5. B. Grigas III, 155; 6. R. Silk, 150; 7. J. Myers, 146; 8. M. Hirschman, 142; 9. F. Fleming, 138; 10. A. Seuss, 134.
Sources: Jason Mitchell/NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour PR