by Skip Wall
So just what is up in the Junior Miller camp these days?
Miller a multiple time track champion at Winston Salems Bowman Gray stadium may even question himself after all the scenarios this season at the stadium and the Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
At the beginning of the season Miller of Danbury NC gave up one of the most coveted rides in the Modified Series, with Riggs Racing out of Martinsville Va, and of whom has one of the better sponsors in racing with Advance Auto Parts.

Miller stated in an earlier interview that he wanted to spend more time close to home and at the historic stadium. He went with Melvin “Puddin” Swisher of Kernersville and the team had three cars at its disposal. In fact. Riggs Racing had once provided cars to Swishers team and said that they thought Miller had better equipment than its own Martinsville based team had.

However that equation hasn’t been what one might have thought as Miller has only one win under his belt from last Saturday night and that win was taken away from him.

Under protest from eventual winner Chris Fleming, Miller was found by NASCAR officials to have illegal heads in his Hayes Jewelers sponsored Dodge.

But this wasn’t the first time that Miller has been in trouble.

In April at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw NC, Miller was disqualified from a Whelen Southern Modified Tour race for the same infractions after officials discovered illegal heads on his car before qualifying.

Millers crew chief, Chad Freeman, was fined 1000.00, suspended from four Whelen Southern Modified races and suspended from NASCAR for several months.

Freeman appealed that decision and it was heard this past week. Officials Clay Campbell, Bud Moore and George Silbermann upheld the earlier decisions handed down, because Miller wouldn’t allow the heads be taken by NASCAR.

To make matters worse, Miller was suspended one week at Bowman Gray Stadium for taking out driver Bobby Hutchens in a 100 lap race.

Through it all, Junior Miller remains one of the most popular drivers at the Stadium. He has won some 68 races at the stadium, which is the record.

Miller is one of two things. You either love or hate Junior Miller. Week after week he brings some type of controversy to the table. Most drivers have respect for him. Most will tell you that they hate to see him in their rear view mirror.

Miller seems to be on the skids this year and that’s not just his style. He races to win in each and every race, however wins are hard to come by since the competition is as fierce as it is at the stadium. And he will race you hard.

Miller usually is very much available after the races which enhances his popularity with his fan base. He will sign autographs well into the morning hours on a Saturday night.

He will even talk racing to you at his restaurant located in his hometown of Danbury.

But this season fans see a different Miller except for his tough driving style. Miller will leave the track just after his race, citing having to go to birthday parties or a church function. And by leaving early, its also hard to get an interview out of Miller.

And a visit to his shops located at S&R Motors in Kernersville, on Thursday, didn’t help either. In fact no one was in the open shop except for the three race cars and an old coupe that Miller raced a long time ago.

He dismissed his earlier suspension at the stadium, by telling journalist Tommy Bowman of the Winston Salem Journa,l that he needed a vacation, the week of his suspension.

One thing for sure is that Miller will be back to race even if times are tough on him. Moreover this isn’t the first time that Miller has been in this type of drought.

Even through controversy track promoter Gray Garrison knows that Miller sells tickets to Modified events at the stadium. Again you love him or hate him. And it wasn’t Garrison that suspended or disqualified Miller in the past.

Miller has this thing with his fans or the fan base at Bowman Gray. And that’s partly why the Stadium is still the most exciting of them all.

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