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Ricky Miller To Be Remembered:
Claremont, NH (Mar 14,2008) --- In a joint announcement, track owner
Dennis Fleury and series president Jack Bateman, the principals
responsible for the inaugural event, advise the 1st annual “Ricky
Miller Memorial 100,” presented by New England Outdoor Furnaces,”
will be held on Sunday afternoon Sept.28th as part of the Twin State
Speedway Fall Challenge, a two day event.
Miller, a Twin State (Claremont Speedway) standout for many years
before moving on to the Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Busch
North Series died at the age of 34. The popular competitor, a one
time Florida racer and crew chief for noted car owner/builder Mario
Fiore, would also win the last Whelen Modified Tour race at the
famed Riverside Park Speedway, Agawam, MA., and claim that tracks
final championship for the modified division prior to it’s 1999
closing.
The addition of the September race to the TVMRS schedule has
generated a tremendous amount of interest from fans and racers. The
opportunity to honor and remember one of the speedways greatest
names make’s the event that more special.
Marketing director John Hoyt opined, “The TVMRS and TSS worked very
hard to get the series back to where many of the original series
drivers called home. We all knew that this event was going to be
big, now with the addition of the Miller family as part of this
event, it is going to be special. For me this event is now very
personal, not only is it being held at my home track but I also get
to honor the person that got me involved in racing. The very first
race car I ever worked on was Ricky’s. He and the Miller family
provided me with opportunities in this sport that few people ever
get. In racing there is no higher honor than to be called a Racer.
Ricky Miller was a Racer.”
TSS race director Mike Parks noted that the late racer was a big
part of the tracks long history. “We wanted to make this event as
special as we can, so with the help of the TVMRS and Donnie and
Barbara Miller, what a way to bring the Mods back. Ricky cut his
teeth racing at the Thrasher Road oval from the start of his racing
career, racing in the street stocks with his AMC Javelin. From that
point he made the jump to the pro stock class again with many
feature wins to his credit. The Miller family has a long history at
TSS as Ricky’s dad Donnie “The Golden Jet “Miller was a multi time
track champion at the speedway. TSS is proud to be able to honor
Ricky with this event.”
Series founder Bateman fondly remembered Miller who passed away in
2004. “I am really happy that the TVMRS and Twin State Speedway have
been able to put this together. Donnie Miller is a longtime friend
who I raced with for many years. Donnie was one of Claremont’s
modified hero’s, known as” The Golden Jet”. His son Ricky followed
in his footsteps racing on the local short tracks. He was a strong
competitor and became a good friend to me and many in the local
racing fraternity. I know that we are all going work really hard to
make the series’ inaugural visit to Twin State a huge success. I
want to thank track owner Dennis Fleury and everyone involved for
making this happen.”
The legendary “Golden Jet” Donnie Miller was emotionally overwhelmed
to learn that his late son was going to be remembered in front of
many of the drivers he raced with and is hoping for a big turnout
from modified fans from all over New England. “Ricky’s mother,
sister, brother, and I are so honored to have a racing tribute in
Ricky’s memory. He would be very proud and so humbled to have a
modified racing event to include his name and memory. Ricky was a
true racer and the now Twin State Speedway (formerly Claremont
Speedway) was where he cut his teeth in racing at a very young age.
It is also where he raced his last race. He raced from Maine to
Florida in many different divisions and was moving up racings ladder
of success when he was taken from us in the prime of his life.”
The New England racing great added that this race has an additional
meaning for him and his family. “I want this event to mean something
special and that is why I have decided to make it a fund raiser for
Kyle and Patty Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp located in North
Carolina. Kyle and Patty Petty also lost their son Adam Petty at a
very young age. They founded this camp to help chronic and
terminally ill children in Adam’s memory. Out of all tragedy comes
some good and if we can raise some money to help give some chronic
and terminally ill children a little happiness in their lives it
will sure help us. I hope we can get support from all of the
businesses in and around the Claremont area and the race fans to
make this a great success. It would be great to be able to make a
nice sized donation to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.”
Miller closed saying, “I would like to say thank you for all of the
support we have received so far and thank you to all those that plan
to support us in the future to make this a race to remember." |
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