ASA: California Native Set to Make ASA Debut at Irwindale Speedway

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Series first trip to West Coast will also see new sponsor for rookie Spaw

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. – Nineteen-year-old California native Brandon Miller has agreed to run a team car for SouthWest Motorsports, making his American Speed Association debut, when the series visits the half-mile Irwindale Speedway on Mar ch 9-10. Miller is currently the only California driver entered for the Tires.com 300 presented by BFGoodrich Tires.

The deal will make Miller a teammate to 2001 ASA Rookie of the Year candidate Johnny Spaw. Miller will use his Miller Motorsports crew during the weekend, the same he uses on the Southwest Series, which he runs full-time, and will have Boar’s Head Meats an d Oakley serving as sponsors.

“I'm really looking forward to racing next weekend at Irwindale,” said Miller. “It's lucky for me that my first ASA race will be at Irwindale Speedway, my 'home track' for the past two years; so I guess I have home field advantage.

Miller raced go-karts in the United States from 1992 to 1997, winning several championships. He also spent some time racing karts in Europe, and, in 1998, he was nominated by the World Karting Association to represent the U.S. in a worldwide karting shooto ut, where he finished third. Late in 1998, he moved onto late model stock cars at Irwindale Speedway, where, through two-plus years, he has accumulated multiple top-10 finishes, including two poles and one win, and was voted as Irwindale’s “Most Promising Driver.”

“I'm looking forward to the level of competition in ASA,” said Miller. “These drivers are extraordinarily fast and I can't wait to get on track with them and learn from some of the best drivers in the country. John Lundberg has given me a great opportunit y to run my first ASA race. He runs a very professional team, with excellent car preparation. I think that we've got the perfect combination to be successful at Irwindale Speedway next weekend”

SouthWest Motorsports owner John Lundberg’s association with Miller came through his son, who raced with Miller on several occasions.

“Brandon is a great young man and an exceptional talent in the world of racing,” said Lundberg. “We are looking forward to putting him in a car and teaming him with Johnny (Spaw) for this race, and hopefully a few more during the 2001 season.”

Spaw will have a new sponsor for the Irwindale Speedway show, as the team signed 7Up / RC Cola of Southern California. The company is the main distributor for the entire Southern California market.

The Tires.com 300 presented by BFGoodrich Tires will begin with practice and qualifying, along with the Wynn’s 100 qualifying race beginning at 8 p.m. (all times Pacific) on March 9. Race day, March 10, will see the pre-race activities begin at 4 p.m. with the ASA on-track autograph session, followed by the introduction of the drivers and special honorees. The event, which will be carried live on TNN Sports, will begin at 6 p.m.

Text Provided By Jeremy Troiano

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