Getting Up To Speed With…Kenny Miller
By Ben Deatherage
I got a chance to talk to one of the heavy hitters of the Sunset Speedway Park when it comes to Modified drivers. Kenny Miller of Vancouver, Washington has had quite a successful career at the Banks bullring. During his racing tenure he has competed on tracks from Oregon, Washington, and California all the way to the Lone Star State of Texas.
Driver: Kenny Miller
Home Track: Sunset Speedway Park
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
Occupation: Welder
Age: 43
Years Racing: 28
Classification: IMCA Modified
Car Number: 57
Chassis: T.R.E. Race Cars
Sponsors: Jody’s Bar & Grill, GRV Mobile RV Repair, VP Braille Services, Perfection Automotive, Race 2 A Cure, Triple E Ranch
Special Thanks: Frannie Miller (wife), Howard Miller (brother), Russell Schultz, Josh Warbis, Family
BD: In 2012 there were a lot of different winners in the Modified class at Sunset. You were the only driver to win more than once. That’s got to feel pretty good?
KM: It has been getting challenging at Banks each year. It’s a real technical track. The fast guys start in the back and it’s tough to get through traffic without hitting any one. I like Banks more than the bigger places because of the technique you have to use and not a horsepower track.
BD: In the last couple of years you’ve went to some different venues. How has your knowledge at Banks helped you out at those other tracks?
KM: You can’t take what you learn at Banks and apply it to bigger tracks like Willamette or Elma because of their size but it’s a little bit interchangeable to the small tracks like Madras. I like to travel but because of the cost for travelling and competing make it very hard to do. I’m still learning, these new cars are exotic and the technology is always changing. We are not racing $500.00 Jalopies anymore
BD: In the last few years you’ve had a strong finish to the year. You seem to finish the season really strong?
KM: At the beginning of the year we get a lot of rain and the tracks are rougher and heavier. I find I’m the fastest when the track goes dry slick. When it’s heavy and wet you’re constantly hammer down and not lifting and it can be pretty rough on equipment. I try and keep my car at 100% at all times doing maintenance quite often throughout the week.
BD: You have a unique sponsor with VP Braille Services. What exactly do they do?
KM: They convert to books that we can read into Braille text for blind people. They do all sorts of subjects from English, History, and all the way to Russian Mathematics. It’s pretty cool what they do.
BD: A charity you participate in is a Race 2 A Cure. What are they about?
KM: It’s based in New York and it helps out cancer patients with paying their bills. It’s been getting bigger and bigger every year. And I’m the only driver right now representing the West Coast right now at this point.
BD: You haven’t always lived in Washington. You’re originally from California correct?
KM: Correct. I started at a little dirt track in Pearsonville Speedway (in California) that unfortunately is no longer open. Since then I’ve raced all over California, Nevada, and Texas. I moved to Texas in 1998 around the Longview/Tyler area and raced a lot at Lone Star Speedway. I moved back to California in 1999 and moved up to Washington in 2000 and ran Portland the year when it was dirt. I’ve been racing Modifieds in 1996.
Sunset Speedway Park returns to action this Saturday May 25th. Classes competing will be the Northwest Wingless Tour, Northwest Extreme Modifieds, Street Stocks, 4-Bees, and Womens. Also on Sunday the 26th will be the first 300-Lap Iron Man Enduro Series event of 2013. General admission to the Sunday race is FREE. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com or call the new Northwest Tracks Hotline at (360)-699-RACE.