Carder Miller ran 2nd in a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series heat race during the Winternationals
Carder Miller and Miller Brothers Racing hit the road on a near 800 mile trip to East Bay Raceway Park. The Salem, Virginia team entered Florida Speedweeks with a sole goal, making a feature.
On night two of the show, Miller ran 2nd in a heat heat and transferred into the main event. That original goal was accomplished, banging a few fenders with the defending LOLMDS champion along the way.
After Miller ran 2nd in the heat at East Bay Raceway Park I had to meet him. At the time I went to do that, there was a miniature line of press members. I guess that happens when you run 2nd in a national touring series heat race at age 13.
At near infancy, Miller was crowned the 2016 Late Model Track Champion of Natural Bridge Speedway. So, who is he? Lets find out…
Where are you from?
“Im from Salem, Virginia.”
What’s your local track?
“Probably, Bulls Gap is one of our local ones.”
That’s a fun one.
“Yes sir.”
What was your first start? And what were you driving?
“Wytheville Speedway, I was driving a Modified.”
That’s where you started? That’s the hardest class right? The modifieds?
“Yes sir.”
What’s you goal? Where do you want to go?
“Probably, just keeping doing this and getting a little better.”
Late models are the goal and you’re already there. Then you ran 2nd in a Lucas Oil Late Model heat race, at age 13.
“We had a fast car. We just adjusted ourselves out of the race in the feature. We did some things that we should have done at the beginning of the night. We actually did them at the end of the night.”
Miller ran 20th in the feature that night at East Bay Raceway.
What was it that you got your start in? Was it an A Mod or B Mod?
“It was just a 602 crate modified. It was an old, difficult thing to drive. I was 9 years old.”
Did you ever win in it?
“No, I started on the pole. Then, I tore it up the first time I had a chance. I’d say now that I’d be pretty good at it.”
Did your dad make you work on it?
“Oh yeah. It’s just me and him most of the time.”
Is it a family operation?
“Dad owns the car. We all just kinda work on it together.”
Miller ran with the LOLMDS from Feb 5th-7th at East Bay. On the 8th, the team unfortunately wasn’t allowed to race. The track realized that their insurance didn’t cover him. Technically, it wasn’t that the insurance wouldn’t cover Carder. It was more that if Carder caused an accident with another driver than that other driver wouldn’t be covered.
“All in all though, there are no hard feelings,” car owner Bo Miller told RacingNews.co after their multi-day run at East Bay. “The track owner was a great guy and very apologetic. In todays world unfortunately its all about protecting ones self. In our sport of racing you kinda have your neck stuck out pretty far anyways. So, we understand!”
The team will return to LOLMDS competition! They currently plan to attend Volunteer Speedway (Mar 22), Tazewell Speedway (May 4), Portsmouth Speedway (June 30) and Smoky Mountain Speedway (July 7).
Each of those races are pending approval from track officials. Rick Schwallie, LOLMDS series director, is planning to be in contact with the upcoming tracks regarding insurance clearance. The kid will be back!
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Related: East Bay Raceway Park Results – Feb 6th
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Carder Miller | East Bay Raceway Park | LOLMDS | Shane Walters
