CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Gavin Miller led all 25 laps from the pole to notch his first career USAC Southwest 360 Sprint Car victory during Friday night’s Western World Championships at Central Arizona Raceway.
However, it didn’t come without its share of close encounters for the Allentown, Pennsylvania native as he put the home state car fielded by the Team AZ / Curb-Agajanian Racing team into victory lane at the three-eighths-mile dirt oval.
With 11 laps remaining, Miller nearly got caught up while attempting to put Dayton Shelton a lap down. Shelton ricocheted off the cushion, right in front of Miller, but Miller was narrowly able to avoid catastrophe by about the width of an eyebrow hair.
By the time there were four laps to go, fellow Western World Rookie Jacob Denney had closed up the gap considerable on Miller and was raring up to take his shot at the lead.
As Miller put 10th running Ryan Bernal a lap down around the outside on the back straightaway, Denney had a run that he took into turn three as he attempted to split between Miller and Bernal.
However, Denney’s left rear tire ramped over Bernal’s right front tire, sending Denney’s car briefly airborne before he smashed backwards into the outside wall.
From that point forward, Miller had things under full control as he stayed true to the top and took the checkered flag 2.925 seconds ahead of Kevin Thomas Jr.
Fast-qualifier Elijah Gile, Briggs Danner and Ricky Lewis filled the top five.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps, starting positions in parentheses): 1. Gavin Miller (1), 2. Kevin Thomas Jr. (9), 3. Elijah Gile (4), 4. Briggs Danner (2), 5. Ricky Lewis (5), 6. R.J. Johnson (7), 7. Charles Davis Jr. (6), 8. Jake Helsel (11), 9. David Gasper (17), 10. J.J. Yeley (12), 11. Ryan Bernal (15), 12. Dayton Shelton (14), 13. Ricky Thornton Jr. (8), 14. Grant Schaadt (10), 15. Bruce St. James (16), 16. Koen Crawford (19), 17. Daylin Perreira (13), 18. Joshua Shipley (18), 19. Austin Cato (22), 20. Austin Ervine (20), 21. Lonnie Oliver (24), 22. Jacob Denney (3), 23. Chaz Baca (23), 24. Racin Silva (21).
