Story By: John Wells
Photo By: Guy Adams
For the second straight year, Jeremy Miller picked up the checkered flag in the ‘Salute to America’ 48 lap feature for the Big 8 Late Models at Madison International Speedway. Miller started eleventh and took the lead on lap 27 on his way to the checkered flag.
Tyler Brown and Tim Sargent led the field of seventeen cars to the green flag. Sargent was able to gain the early advantage. On lap 3 Bobby Wilberg passed Brown for second. Three laps later Brody Willett moved past Ryan Kamish for fourth place.
On lap 7, Wilberg moved to the inside of Sargent coming out of turn four to take the lead. Moving quickly up through the field was Miller who was fifth on lap 9.. On lap 11 Miller moved to the inside of Willett for the third position.
Miller moved past Sargent on lap 14 to take second and started to hunt down Wilberg. On lap 18, Wilberg’s lead was down to three car lengths over Miller as the leaders worked around lapped traffic. This allowed the pair to build a sizeable lead over the third place car of Michael Bilderback.
Miller took the lead on lap 27 when he found room on the low side coming out of turn two and worked his way past Wilberg. Miller was able to increase his lead on lap 31 when Wilberg got caught behind lapped traffic. Doing his best to dial in the top two, Bilderback was closing the gap on Wilberg.
Miller was able to increase his lead over Wilberg as the rest of the field was hoping for a caution flag, but it didn’t come out. Bilderback finished in third followed by Sargent and Willett.
“It’s crazy. This car has just been fast lately,” said Miller who became the all-time winningest driver in the Big 8.
“I’ve got to thank everyone who helps me out and allows me to do this out here,” said Wilberg.
Bilderback added, “We just didn’t work our way through traffic like we needed to tonight.”
Heat race wins went to Jeremy Miller and John Baumeister Jr. Miller also set fast time with a lap of 18.463, narrowly missing the Big 8 track record at Madison of 18.441.
‘Salute to America’
Race Results
1. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
2. Bobby Wilberg Beloit, WI
3. Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
4. Tim Sargent South Beloit, IL
5. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
6. John Baumeister Jr Beloit, WI
7. Matt Lundberg Rockton, IL
8. Zach Riddle Cottage Grove, WI
9. Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
10. Mike Lloyd Davis, IL
11. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
12. Cody Kippenhan Ypsilanti, MI
13. Jake Vanoskey Hartford, WI
14. Jared Duda St Michael, MN
15. Steve Vaughn Maple Park, IL
16. Tyler Hromadka Brookfield, WI
17. Tyler Brown Carol Stream, Il
DNS- Jake Zellmer Muskego, WI
BIG 8 LATE MODEL SERIES POINTS
(Top 10, as of 6.30.17)
1. Michael Bilderback 354
2. Jeremy Miller 343
3. Tim Sargent 295
4. Brody Willett 267
5. Ryan Kamish 205
6. Jerry Mueller 202
7. Mike Lloyd 186
8. Jake Vanoskey 180
9. Tyler Brown (R) 175
10. Jared Duda 166