Winchester, VA. August, 12th, 2023. Nick Fillman, USAC ECSC
For the second week in a row, Kenny Miller lll was able to collect the checkered flags in Rapid Tire, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, presented by Capitol Renegade action, this time at the Winchester Speedway holding in a fierce duel with Carmen Perigo Jr.
Kenny Miller lll and Preston Lattomus lead the field to green for the feature event at Winchester, with Miller getting the best of Lattomus and quickly moving to the race lead, with Perigo dropping to the bottom side of Lattomus and securing the runner up spot early.
Miller was out front with Perigo in second who was immediately glued to the rear bumper of the 23 machine out front. Lattomus had settled into third, with Bobby Butler and Joey Amantea completing the top five. While further back in the pack, Briggs Danner had quickly rolled the outside of the speedway and moved into sixth and pressured Amantea for fifth from his tenth starting spot.
Carmen Perigo pestered to the inside of Kenny Miller through the opening six laps of feature action, not being able to get a full run to the inside of Miller to secure the race lead, before the first caution flag of the feature flew on lap six as Brett Rose and Jason Cherry went for a spin in turns three and four.
The ensuing restart saw Miller and Perigo sprint away from the rest of the field as Bobby Butler continued to pressure Preston Lattomus for the final podium position. Miller was out front and running a unique line out of the corner, allowing Perigo to dive to the bottom of the speedway and get under Miller for a number of laps as they went side by side for the race lead multiple times.
Perigo tried lap after lap to get to the inside, and then to the outside of Miller, before the caution flag flew again on lap fourteen of the feature event for Brett Rose who went for a spin in turn one.
The restart with eleven laps to go again saw Miller and Perigo pull away from the field and continue their battle for the lead, as again, Bobby Butler put the pressure on Lattomus for third. Further back, Steven Drevicki began to come to life, picking off JT Ferry, then diving to the bottom side of Briggs Danner and beginning to make a charge toward the top five.
On lap sixteen of the feature event, Perigo created a massive run out of turn two and down the back stretch, and dove to the bottom of Miller in turn three. Both drivers skated up the track and slight contact was made. Both went above the cushion and were able to collect themselves before diving back down the banking and continuing their battle.
Meanwhile, Bobby Butler was able to get to the underside of the speedway and pass Preston Lattomus for the third spot with only a handful of laps remaining as the entire top five was all in the same corner for a pair of laps after the Perigo and Miller contact.
As things settled in for the final five laps, Kenny Miller was able to put a large gap on Perigo for the race lead and went on to secure his second win in a row, and third win of the season. Carmen Perigo was able to come home in third, with Bobby Butler, Joey Amantea getting by Preston Lattomus for fourth, with Lattomus rounding out the top five.
When race tracks get slick, it seems to benefit Kenny Miller and his team come feature time. All three off Miller’s wins this season have come when the track has been smooth and slick, starting at Georgetown at the beginning of the season, and continuing on into August at Winchester. With his third win of the season, Miller now has eclipsed his one season win record of two, and for the first time ever has won back to back feature events. Miller is still busy with his traveling work schedule, but the team has shown now more than ever that they are a threat for the win each and every night.
Try as he might, a win at the Winchester Speedway did not happen yet again for Carmen Perigo Jr. As the whole pit area is aware, and Miller even said in his interview, he knew that Perigo would run clean for the race lead, and a hip check type move for the lead likely wouldn’t happen. It did, all but by accident, as Perigo tried everything he could to take the race lead away. Ultimately Perigo settled for second, after putting up a fight for the bulk of the race.
If there was a driver who needed a podium finished more than anyone in the pit area it was Bobby Butler. The driver has had a frustrating season, and again switch cars for competition to try and change his luck. Switching back to his Triple X chassis, and despite a flat trailer tire on the way to the track, Butler had a strong and smooth run to a podium finish that was definitely needed for the team.
Joey Amantea collected another smooth and steady top five run. Amantea has had plenty of consistent speed this season, and has not been pushing the car passed what it is capable in recent feature events. Despite the solid runs after a shaky start to the season, the driver is still not satisfied with not being able to crack into victory lane. Look for Amantea and team to continue to push harder and harder with only a few shows left.
Preston Lattomus completed the top five, after dropping a pair of positions late in the feature event. Lattomus scored an entertaining heat win in heat one blasting to the high side of the speedway passing Joey Amantea and Steven Drevicki late in the going to score the win. Lattomus and team were the winners at Winchester earlier this season, and were tying to repeat the fate this time around. Unfortunately things didn’t quite work out how they’d like, but were still rewarded with a top five run on a difficult Winchester Speedway surface.
Up next for the Rapid Tire Services, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, is a return visit to the bullring and high banks of Action Track USA in Kutztown, PA on Sunday, August 20th. This will no doubt be a can’t miss show for any sprint car fan on the east coast!
USAC East Coast at Winchester Results:
Heat 1 (8 Laps, 4 Invert, All Qualify): 1. 23B Preston Lattomus, 2. 88J Joey Amantea, 3. 19 Steven Drevicki, 4. 45R Brett Rose, 5. 83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr, 6. 48G George Loux, 7. 96 Lee Kauffman.
Heat 2 (8 Laps, 4 Invert, All Qualify): 1. 21 Carmen Perigo Jr, 2. 5B Bobby Butler, 3. 23M Kenny Miller lll, 4. 18J JT Ferry, 5. 39 Briggs Danner, 6. 67 Jason Cherry.
Feature Event (25 Laps): 1. 23M Kenny Miller lll, 2. 21 Carmen Perigo Jr, 3. 5B Bobby Butler, 4. 88J Joey Amantea, 5. 23B Preston Lattomus, 6. 19 Steven Drevicki, 7. 39 Briggs Danner, 8. 18J JT Ferry, 9. 67 Jason Cherry, 10. 83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr, 11. 48G George Loux, 12. 96 Lee Kauffman, 13. 45R Brett Rose.
Lap Leaders: Kenny Miller lll 1-25