Miami: Rocketsports Racing race report

MIAMI -- It was a Rocketsports front row at the start and finish in today's Motorock Miami 100, Round 10 of the Motorock Trans-Am Tour for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup. It was Scott Pruett and Tomy Drissi who led the grid to the green flag, but it was Pruett, followed by Johnny Miller, who took the checkered flag. Pruett, driver of the No. 7 Motorock Jaguar R Performance XKR, not only scored the win but clinched his third Trans-Am Drivers' Championship. Meanwhile, Miller, driving the No. 64 Motorock Jaguar XKR, finished second, his eighth podium finish this season. His solid drive today secured him the second place position in the championship point standings.

Pruett's Trans-Am victory in Miami was eighth this season and his 22nd career win; he now ranks fourth on the all-time win list. Miller reached a career milestone as he made his 100th Trans-Am start.

"The car was really quick, it would just take off," said Pruett, who won his previous Trans-Am titles in 1987 and 1994. "It stayed underneath me all day."

Pruett was quick to give his teammate due credit. "Johnny ran strong all day, just like he has all season," he continued. "It was a mirror race of Trois-Rivieres -- some places he was better and some places I was faster. In the end, it came our way.

"Winning a championship is really a team effort," said Pruett. "The driver is the focal point, but it takes the team's hard work and dedication. We've had zero mechanical problems this season. It's been a dream season."

Miller's 100th start was memorable. "The bump leading on to the front straight was a real wake-up call with a full fuel load," said Miller, who has two wins, 40 top-five finishes, 67 top-ten postings, and four poles to his credit. "The last restart hurt us some, but all in all, I had a great day, a good car, and I could have gone another 20 laps. I had my plan, but it just didn't quite work out.

"The important thing for me was just to be here," Miller explained. "I have to thank Rocketsports and Motorock for making it possible for me to continue the run for the championship and at least take a swing at it."

Drissi, driving the No. 5 "Stuck on You, the Movie" Jaguar XKR, retired early with suspension problems following contact with another competitor, finishing 13th.

The Motorock Miami 100 will air on a tape-delayed basis on Friday, Oct. 10 at 9:00 p.m. on SPEED Channel.