2004 Year In Review - Part 2

Welcome to part two of the “Jeremy Miller Racing 2004 Year in Review.”  In this second of three articles we will cover April through June of the 2004 racing season.  Please be sure to view the assortment of photographs at the bottom of this page.

The months of April through June were probably the busiest for Jeremy as they marked the start of the racing season for both his dirt stock car and USAR Hooters Pro Cup schedule.  However, this was also a very rewarding time for Jeremy as he experienced his first asphalt race with a top ten finish.  The racing season officially kicked off for Jeremy on April 3rd with the "Frost Buster" special at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA.  Jeremy started the year off very well there as he started toward the front in the feature.  He ran well all night.  The only problem he encountered was the motor really bogged down on restarts, usually taking him two laps to get back up to his original restart position.  Jeremy ended up fourth after the race was shortened by five laps due to time constraints.  It was a good season opener.

Then on April 16th, Jeremy arrived in South Boston, VA for his first race weekend with the USAR Hooters Pro Cup series.  The two day event started out with a major technical inspection of the race cars and also some open practice time for all competitors.  Jeremy was only able to get a few laps at speed during the first day's practice.  On Saturday, Jeremy was able to get the practice time he needed.  Unfortunately, the car ended up being very tight.  He was never able to make changes that helped and Jeremy was unable to qualify for the race that night.  After returning home from South Boston, the team found a major problem with the rear end placement that had kept the car from turning well.  It was a tough way to learn such a lesson.  Jeremy summed up the weekend saying, "It was disappointing to make a long trip and not qualify, but it was very encouraging to find the problem when we got home."

The next Saturday, Jeremy headed down to Memphis, MO to race on the dirt at the Scotland County Speedway.  The weekend would end up being another disappointment as Jeremy was involved in a wreck early in his heat race.  That not only ended his night, but also severely damaged the front suspension and frame of the car.  With a wrecked dirt car and his next USAR Hooters Pro Cup race over a month away, Jeremy kept quiet during the month of May.  He used the time to prepare both his cars for more racing in June.

On June 12th, Jeremy traveled to the old, high banked Salem Speedway in Salem, IN.  The day was quite interesting as very strong storms passed through the area shortly after his #18 Monte Carlo got through tech inspection.  Much of the day was spent hiding under cover as heavy rain and lightning passed over the race track.  Conditions did not look good for racing.  However, track officials worked hard and eventually there was practice on the track.  USAR officials decided to cancel qualifying in an attempt to have as much practice time as possible.  Nobody would be sent home, so Jeremy was locked into the show. 

Although nervous in the beginning, Jeremy started the race and drove smart all night.  He made sure to race for his own experience and be cautious of everyone else.  He was tested as he avoided multiple accidents throughout the night.  One scary incident involved Jeremy coming off turn four to find himself driving between a car bouncing off the front stretch wall as a wheel with tire bounced down the track.  He ended up making it through the night unscathed.  His crew ran him out of gas with just three laps to go, but he had made it all the way through the night.  With a high attrition rate, Jeremy ended up in the 9th position in his first ever asphalt race.  "The day was full of ups and downs," Jeremy said, "It started off with many rain showers canceling qualifying.  It made for a nervous evening in the beginning, but a scratch free race made for a great top ten finish."

Jeremy then raced on the dirt for three of the five remaining days in June.  On June 26th, he went back to Scotland County Speedway.  Jeremy had fast car but fell out of the feature race with a flat right rear tire.  He then went to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA for the "Stock Car Shootout" special two night race on June 29th and 30th.  Again, the car ran very strong but the motor started missing a cylinder and Jeremy settled for a good 3rd place finish.  The second night would not go as well.  He had to qualify for the feature through the B main.  Then, as he started deep in the field, he had too much patience waiting to pass some slower cars.  "Sure wish these dirt track races were longer," Jeremy stated, "It sure would make for a better finish."

There wasn't any time to worry about it though, the next day Jeremy was to travel to Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, OH for his next USAR Hooters Pro Cup race scheduled for July 2nd.  Jeremy was packing a lot of racing into just seven days, but he was just doing what he loves to do.

Pictures from April through June 2004.
Click on each picture to view it, then click the back button in your browser to return to this page.

Jeremy practices at South Boston Speedway in VA	Jeremy practices at South Boston Speedway in VA	Jeremy practices at South Boston Speedway in VA	Jeremy in the pits at South Boston Speedway in VA	Jeremy discusses what changes to make to the car
Jeremy discusses what changes to make to the car	Jeremy poses for a media photo at South Boston	The Budweiser Clydesdales on pit road	Jeremy on the track in April at Scotland County	Jeremy on the track in April at Scotland County
Jeremy practices at Salem Speedway in IN	Jeremy practices at Salem Speedway in IN	Jeremy practices at Salem Speedway in IN	Jeremy practices at Salem Speedway in IN	Jeremy lined up to start his first race at Salem, IN
Jeremy races down the front stretch at Salem	Jeremy races through 3 & 4 at Salem	Jeremy ended up finishing 9th at Salem	Dirt stock car racing in June at Oskaloosa, IA	Jeremy watches on waiting for his race at Oskaloosa, IA