CONCORD, N.C. — Parker Price-Miller will have one of the top opportunities of his career when he straps in for the season-ending Can-Am World Finals Nov. 7-9 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Price-Miller has been tabbed to drive Christopher Bell’s No. 21 sprint car for the final event on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series calendar and will become the first driver other than Bell to steer that entry.
Price-Miller told Sprint Car & Midget this week that the opportunity developed after a discussion between he and Bell during the recent Nittany Showdown at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway.
“I actually got a call probably about 9 p.m. or so that night (after Port Royal), where he wanted to know if I’d be interested in running his car,” Price-Miller recalled. “He had to talk to Chad (Boat) a bit because Chad takes care of the car quite a bit and they use Chad’s truck and trailer, so he had to make sure that Chad was OK with everything, but they both texted me Sunday afternoon and said it’s a go and that they were excited to work with me.
“Hopefully, we can have a good run and make some noise.”
The chance to drive for Bell, someone that Price-Miller grew up racing with and considers a good friend, is one most drivers would relish.
The 21-year-old from Kokomo, Ind., is no exception to that sentiment.
“It’s really cool,” said Price-Miller of running for Bell’s team. “Obviously, the little kid inside me gets pretty excited, because guys like that are one percenters and to drive for one of them is pretty cool. I’ve actually been friends with Chris since before he was known as Christopher Bell. We used to race micros together, and actually we both worked with Rick Ferkel for a while, so we’ve always kind of known each other and been friends.
“With his NASCAR path and his other commitments, we still are friends; we just don’t have the strong friendship we used to have,” Price-Miller noted. “But it’s always good to see him at the race track and for him to give me a call to go to a race like the World Finals and to have the confidence in me to put his car in a good spot is a pretty overwhelming.”
Considering the similarities in Bell’s equipment to what Price-Miller has run for much of the year — spending much of his time in the No. 71p Indy Race Parts entry under the guidance of Bernie Stuebgen — the young Hoosier believes the World Finals will be his time to shine.
“Obviously it’s gonna be a tough field, but I don’t think Chris would waste his money if he didn’t think we had a chance and I wouldn’t waste my time if I didn’t think I had a chance,” Price-Miller said. “I’ve been good at Charlotte before; last year (at the World Finals) I was quick time both nights and ran top 10 on Saturday, so I’m confident that we can have a good run. He’s got a good motor program and a good package that I’m pretty familiar with, all-around.
“They run the Speedway engines, which is what I run usually; it’s a Maxim (Chassis) race car, which is the cars I usually run; and Factory Kahne shocks, which is what I usually run, so it’s not like I’m sitting in something new. It’s something that I at least have a feel for.
“All in all, I think that all the pieces are there for us to have a successful weekend.”