|
JOHNNY
MILLER READY FOR ROAD AMERICA REMATCH
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 4,
2004) — 2003 championship runner-up Johnny Miller will
return to the
Motorock Trans-Am Series this weekend during the 35th Annual
Trans-Am Rumble at the Road at Road
America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Miller, who set the pole record
last year here and finished second, will drive
the No. 64 Eaton Chevrolet Corvette for Derhaag Motorsports
here.
Miller has a score to settle
at Road America. He finished second last year, but hadn’t it
been for the race
finishing under caution, things might have been much different
for the Johnson City, Tenn. driver.
“We’ve always run well
here and been up front—I think I’ve had this thing won
twice before circumstances
intervened,” said Miller. “Last year, that yellow came out
and we were charging. This year, we’re planning
to make that win stick.”
Miller comes into this year
following what was arguably his best Trans-Am season on
record. Backing up his
Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and being named BBS Most
Improved Driver in 1998 in a vote by his fellow
competitors, Miller reached a new zenith in 2003. Finishing
second in the title chase, Miller earned his second
Trans-Am victory, and scored eight podium finishes in 10
starts last season. He also recorded his 100th career
start last year.
Miller is happy to return to
the Trans-Am Series with longtime sponsor Eaton.
“I’ve been missing racing
here. I miss the competition and the Series,” said Miller.
“I’ve competed in some
other Series this year, but the Trans-Am Series has always
been my favorite.”
Miller will have a loyal
following this weekend as a large contingent of Eaton
employees will be cheering for
him from the sidelines.
“We always want to do well
for our sponsors,” said Miller. “I’m blessed to have
Eaton support me again this
year. Eaton has proven its dedication to this program. I'm
glad the decision was made to return this season
and we're looking forward to 2005."
Miller is also proud to be a
part of Derhaag Motorsports this year. Derhaag entries have
posted three podium
finishes this year, with drivers Randy Ruhlman and Ron
Fellows. Ruhlman will team with Miller at Road America
and Denver.
“Jim Derhaag has a
first-class operation,” said Miller. “He put two cars on
the podium at Toronto (second-place
Ruhlman ahead of Fellows), which is just a really neat deal.
They really stepped up to the plate to give me a
shot this year. We tested earlier this year and I was very
impressed with how the team works. I'm looking forward
to racing with them this season."
The 35th Annual Rumble at the
Road is scheduled for Friday and Saturday Aug. 6-7. The
Trans-Am race is
scheduled to start at 4:45 p.m. CDT on Saturday. The Trans-Am
Series is part of a full weekend of racing, which
also includes the featured Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car
World Series Powered by Ford, as well as the
Toyota Atlantic Championship Presented by Yokohama, Formula
BMW USA and Formula Dodge National
Championship.
|
