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Miller Returns to Form, Wins Tour-Type Mods at Wilkesboro
Story by: Mike Neff/Contributor to RACE22.com The Tour Type Modifieds hit the track with the sun shining bright and the skies Carolina blue for 100 laps of exciting green flag racing around Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. Jimmy Zacharias was the fast qualifier and started from the pole position with Jason Myers on his outside. Myers' brother Burt took the green from the inside of the second row with Junior Miller on his outside. At the drop of the green Zacharias quickly jumped to the front and pulled out on the field with Miller right behind him. The Myers brothers looked to be conserving their tires early as John Markovic quickly moved into third place with Jason and Burt Myers filling out the top five. Five laps into the race Zacharias had pulled out to a straightaway lead with the rest of the field within a hundred yards of each other. At the fifteen lap mark Zacharias was wearing out the field but Lee Stimpson looped his car between turns three and four, bringing out the caution flag. As the field bunched back up for the restart Markovic was outside Zacharias with Miller in third and Rick Kluth in fourth. Jason Myers completed the top five. Zacharias once again took off from the pack on the restart with Miller in tow. At lap 25 Zacharias held a comfortable lead over Miller but the No. 36 was gaining on the leader slightly. Kluth, Markovic and Burt Myers rounded out the top five. On lap 40 Stimpson spun for the second time in the event to bring out a caution and once again bunch up the field. Zacharias was still leading and brought them to the green with Miller still to his outside. The Myers brothers made up row two with Kluth in the finishing the top five. Jason Myers slotted in third when the race restarted and passed Miller for second on lap 42. Jason Myers turned up the wick as the race approached the halfway point and began harassing Zacharias for the top spot while Miller worked hard to hold off his brother Burt about half a straightaway behind the leaders. When they came to the competition caution for the halfway point Zacharias still led Jason Myers with Junior Miller third, Burt Myers fourth and Kluth in fifth. The second half of the top ten was Markovic, Gary Putnam, Randy Butner, Ricky Knapp Jr. and Lee Stimpson.
All of the cars came into the pits at the midway point and made some adjustments, moving tires from inside to outside or front to back. When the green flag dropped for the second half of the race Zacharias once again took off and left the field with Jason Myers taking it easy and Kluth moving around him for second place. Burt Myers and Markovic slotted in fourth and fifth. By lap 60 the Myers brothers moved around Kluth and raced to keep Zacharias in sight with Markovic and Butner following them 10 car lengths back.
With 11 laps to go Knapp Jr. spun coming out of the fourth turn bringing out another caution. During the caution period Jason Myers and Zacharias came to pit road to make adjustments. As the cars bunched up for the restart Miller led with Markovic second, Kluth third, Burt Myers fourth and Butner fifth. The restart was single file since it was in the final 10 laps. Jason Myers passed four cars on the restart to make it back up to fifth while Miller led the parade. On lap 92 Burt and Jason Myers worked past Kluth to move up to third and fourth. Jason Myers moved past his brother for third with three to go while Miller held station over Markovic for the lead. On the final lap Jason Myers put a move on Markovic coming out of four for second but was unable to beat him to the line while Miller secured the win. Burt Myers was fourth with Kluth coming him fifth. Website Designed, Hosted & Maintained by RACE22.com Welcome to RACE22.com ... The Home of Limited Late Model Racing ... RACE22.com |