Road America: Johnny Miller preview

Johnny Miller seeks perfect day at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- Johnny Miller, driver of the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR, knows he has his work cut out for him if he plans to overtake teammate Scott Pruett atop the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup points chase. However, coming into Round 8 of this year's championship at Road America, the veteran driver said he's up to the challenge.

Miller, who sits second in points, earned his second Series victory this season at Lime Rock, after winning the pole. This year, Miller has five podium finishes in seven starts. However, Miller hopes a string of bad luck encountered at Infineon Raceway and the Cleveland Grand Prix won't end his hopes for his first Drivers' Championship. Miller finished second in the most recent event, at Trois-Rivières. In his career, Miller has two victories, 24 podiums, 37 top-five and 64 top-10 finishes in 97 starts.

"We're really going to have to put our heads down at Road America if we want to win this championship," said Miller, who sits 40 points behind Pruett in the title chase. "I've been very successful at Road America, but have never won, and it really owes me one.

"We've always run well here, and been up front," added Miller, who won the pole here in 2000, and stood on the podium here in 2001 and 2002. "Hopefully, it will come my way this year; I need one to come my way."

Miller said Road America suits his driving style. "I just love the high-speed track there," added Miller. "Man, we really fly here. It's such a long lap, you just work as hard as you can, and, as you crest the hill, you just hope for a good lap time. A shorter track is much more forgiving. You can pick things up if you have a problem during the lap. At Road America, the laps are so long, you can't have a bad corner. You have to put the whole thing together--every corner and every straightaway--if you want to win the race."

Miller will also be hosting 100 people from his primary sponsor, Eaton Cutler-Hammer, here. "I love the track," added Miller. "We always have a big following of Eaton Cutler-Hammer folks here. We have a big suite on the frontstretch this year, so I have a big fan base, and that gives me a big boost."

The Trans-Am 100 is scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24. The race will air on a same-day, tape-delayed basis on SPEED at 12:30 p.m.