Eldora Speedway
Miller dominates Eldora, wins Johnny Appleseed
Matt Miller gets rolling at Eldora, where he won the night's 25-lapper. (raceimages.net)
ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 29) — Polesitter Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio, dominated all 25 laps Sunday at Eldora Speedway to capture the Johnny Appleseed Classic. Miller earned $2,000 for his 19th career victory on the Sunoco American Late Model Series. | Slideshow
Outside front-row starter Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., finished second while fellow Indiana driver Kent Robinson of Bloomington was third. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., rounded out the top five.
Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, was sixth and among four former Eldora Dream winners in the top six positions at the half-mile oval.
Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., topped 42 qualifiers with a 15.837-second lap, but he had to pit to change a flat tire after the initial start. He rallied back to finish 10th.
Notes: Miller's MasterSbilt Race Car is sponsored by McCullough Industries and PRC. ... The victory moves Miller to fourth on the all-time ALMS victories list. ... Five of his ALMS victories are at Eldora. ... Brian Ruhlman won the night's modified feature. He was seventh in the Late Model main. ... Other drivers pulling double-duty on both divisions: Jerry Bowersock, Jacob Hawkins and Jeff Babcock. ... Among drivers failing to make the Late Model feature lineup: Cruz Pedregon, Chad Stapleton, Alan Vochaska, Curtis Deisenroth, Devin Moran, Sam Epling, Rich Neiser, Phil Ausra, Rick Combs and Jeep Van Wormer, who broke a motor in his heat race. ... One of Eldora's biggest Late Model weeks of the season is coming up with the June 8 Prelude to the Dream, the charity NASCAR all-star race, and the $100,000-to-win Dream on June 10-11.
Sunoco ALMS @ Eldora: (1) Matt Miller, (2) Steve Casebolt, (3) Kent Robinson, (4) Darrell Lanigan, (5) Duane Chamberlain, (6) Donnie Moran, (7) Brian Ruhlman, (8) Doug Drown, (9) Jerry Bowersock, (10) Josh Richards, (11) J.R. Hotovy, (12) Tim Rivers, (13) Andrew Reaume, (14) Jon Henry, (15) Jacob Hawkins, (16) Casey Noonan, (17) Scott Orr, (18) Curtis Roberts, (19) Jerry Rice, (20) Tyler Carpenter, (21) Jeff Babcock, (22) Ryan Vanderveen. Fast qualifier (among 42 cars): Richards, 15.837 seconds. Heat race winners: Lanigan, Chamberlain, Robinson, Moran. Consolation winners: Drown, Henry.
