ASA Imposes Probation for Joey Clanton and Mike Miller

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 30, 2001

Pendleton, Ind. - Officials from the American Speed Association have placed ASA ACDelco Series drivers Joey Clanton and Mike Miller on probation for the balance of the 2001 season.

Clanton, a second-year competitor from Stockbridge, Ga., was cited with the measure of probation after what ASA officials referred to as “a series of incidents involving aggressive driving, including contact with other competitors.” The decision to levy th e sanction on Clanton was reached after numerous controversial on-track incidents over the past two years, culminating with two separate altercations during the Pennsylvania 300 event on Sunday, August 26, at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway.

Clanton’s on-track altercations at Jennerstown involved contact with seven-time ASA National Champion Mike Eddy and veteran Georgia competitor Mike Miller.

While running in the top five, Eddy and Clanton tangled on the front stretch on lap 251, with Clanton’s number 83 Zaxby’s Chevrolet skimming the outside retaining wall and sliding high into the first turn. Although he avoided serious damage and was able to continue, Clanton lost four positions on the track, dropping him from fourth to eighth, right behind Miller.

Less than 20 laps later, Clanton drifted high coming off the fourth turn, and as he and Miller approached the stripe to complete lap 269, Clanton made contact with Miller’s number 18 Jani-King Pontiac, sending the veteran driver spinning into the inside fr ont-stretch wall.

The incident brought out the 10th and final caution period of the event, during which Miller made several attempts to retaliate, including driving the wrong way down the front straightaway and veering left up the track toward Clanton’s oncoming car. Miller proceeded to chase down Clanton, ultimately ramming and spinning the Zaxby’s Chevrolet in the fourth turn.

“The actions of Mike Miller, in obvious retaliation during the caution period, are not going to be tolerated by ASA,” said ASA Technical Director Joe Balash.

“The decision to impose a sanction on Clanton, however, was a bit more difficult. Short track racing, like it or not, is a contact sport. However, we have documented numerous occasions in which the 83 car was involved in altercations, occasionally resultin g in wrecked race cars. The frequency of these incidents dictated that we (ASA) take official action, resulting in probation for the balance of the season.”

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

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