TULSA, Okla. — To the lead, into second, then back up front. That’s the way it went for Cooper Miller Friday night en route to his second career triumph with the Lucas Oil National Open Wheel 600 Series presented by Hi-Plains Building Division.
Landing the Friday night feature win at the KKM Giveback Classic at Port City Raceway, the Engler Machine and Tool Qualifying Night win was enough to secure a spot in Saturday’s championship feature for the Restricted division.
Keeping pace from the start, the challenge for the lead came in the form of Jett Nunley on lap 11.
Getting the run to the inside of the No. 5c, the two made slight contact when the No. 33 slipped up the track in the first and second turns. Racing on without incident, Cooper looked to be in line for a runner-up finish until a flat right rear struck Nunley with 18 laps complete.
Relegating the No. 33 to a DNF, the lead fell back to Cooper, who was under heavy pressure from Landyn Snider. Keeping the low side on lockdown through the closing laps, Miller staved off the No. 8s by 0.487-seconds at the finish. Wyatt Miller, from ninth, crossed third with Nicholas Harris and Grant Schaadt in fifth.
Combined points from Thursday and Friday set the stage for Saturday’s KKM Giveback Classic at Port City Raceway. The six drivers locked into the 40-lap feature are Miller, Nunley, Brody Brown, Chase McDougal, Ryder McCutcheon and Khloe Cotton.
The Finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 5C-Cooper Miller[1]; 2. 8S-Landyn Snider[2]; 3. 83-Wyatt Miller[9]; 4. 2B-Nicholas Harris[4]; 5. 2A-Grant Schaadt[5]; 6. 5-Ryder McCutcheon[12]; 7. 73-Chase McDougal[7]; 8. 4K-Khloe Cotton[8]; 9. 00T-TJ Stark[10]; 10. 15-Brody Brown[13]; 11. 8-Jase Blevins[16]; 12. B2-Carson Bolden[15]; 13. 23J-Jace Wren[6]; 14. 31BW-Braxton Weger[14]; 15. 19A-Ayla Morefield[17]; 16. 24C-Cale Lagroon[18]; 17. 33-Jett Nunley[3]; 18. 3-Lathe Griggs[20]; 19. 45-Bradley Cox[11]; 20. 9C-Jace Cooksey[19]