1979 - Miller Claims Second ARTGO Carter Classic Win

 

Mike Miller captured his second straight ARTGO Wayne Carter Classic at Grundy County Speedway. – Stan Kalwasinski Collection

Morris, Ill. (August 7, 1979) – Repeating last year’s performance, Mike Miller of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., wheeled his Oldsmobile Cutlass to victory in ARTGO Racing’s Wayne Carter Classic at Grundy County Speedway on Tuesday night.

It was Miller’s second ARTGO win of the ’79 season, giving him the distinction of becoming the first two-time winner of the event, which was originated in 1975 to honor Wayne Carter, who brought auto racing to the area in 1917.

The largest crowd of the season saw defending track champion Ray Young grab the lead from his outside front row starting position at the drop of the green flag. The Chicago-land veteran with more than 20 years of racing experience, quickly began building a commanding lead as the rest of the 25-car field sorted themselves out.

With 25 laps in the books, Young’s lead began to approach the half-lap variety as Rusty Wallace, Mike Miller, Billy Kuhn, Mark Martin, and Tom Reffner gave chase. With no stop in the action, the halfway mark quickly approached with Young still on top and Miller, Martin, Reffner, and now Dick Trickle seemingly moving a little closer with every lap.

Young’s comfortable lead was erased on lap 46 when the yellow flag flew for Bob Strait who spun in turn one.

When the green flag resumed racing, it was Young holding off the pressuring Miller, who was followed closely by Martin. Only seven more laps were completed when the yellow light flashed again, this time for Jerry Kemperman, who came to a halt on the frontstretch.

When the green reappeared, Miller immediately dove underneath Young as thee duo headed for the groove in turn one with the two cars making contact, sending Young high and out of shape between turns one and two.

Taking full advantage of the situation, Martin, Reffner, and Trickle slipped by Young, moving behind Miller who was wasting no time in establishing a commanding lead between himself and the rest of his competitors.

It was Miller the rest of the way as far as first place was concerned as the real battle was for second between Reffner, Trickle, Young, Martin and Larry Detjens. The tightly knit bunch ran bumper-to-bumper for the remaining laps as they battled continuously for position.

At the checkered, it was Miller with almost a half-lap lead advantage over runner-up Reffner who was followed by Trickle and Young, who finished the race with a broken tie rod causing him to drag his smoking left front tire for the final few laps.


Results –

1. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.
3. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
4. Ray Young, Dolton, Ill.
5. Larry Detjens, Wausau, Wis.
6. Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
7. Larry Schuler, Lockport, Ill.
8. Dave Watson, Milton, Wis.
9. Ed Hoffman, Niles, Ill.
10.Dave Evans, Crystal Lakes, Ill.