After knocking on the door numerous times over the past couple of seasons, Johnny “Baja” Miller finally scored his first American Sprint Car Series feature win by topping Saturday night’s 25-lap Sixth Annual Ronald Laney Classic for the ASCS Gulf South Region at Houston Raceway Park.
And even though he officially led all the way, Miller had to work for the win aboard Jamie Downing’s Tim’s Engines Fort Worth Lumber/Smiley’s Racing Products No. 64J Maxim.
Starting from the pole, Miller outgunned Jimmy Brooks for the point at the drop of the green. But Brooks, Brandon Berryman and Ray Allen Kulhanek kept the pressure on during the opening circuits.
Brooks slid back after half-dozen rounds, with Berryman and Kulhanek continuing their pursuit of Miller. But even after Channin Tankersley dumped his mount in turn one in vicious fashion after climbing Berryman’s left rear while dicing for third on the 20th round, Miller was not to be denied.
Miller took the checkered flag in front of Berryman and Kulhanek, while Greg Rilat outdueled 17th-starter Chris Sweeney over the final handful of laps for fourth.
Skip Wilson was sixth, with Wes Miller, Larry Hartwell, Gary Watson and Jamie Will completing the top ten.
Brooks, Miller, Kelly Angelette and Eric Baldaccini topped heat race action for the 31-car field, with Sweeney acing the “B” Main.
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