Butch Miller (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Butch Miller is a racecar driver
. He drives the #07 Toyota Tundra
part time in the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series on a limited basis, and is also a crew chief
for SS-Green Light Racing. He is a multiple champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association
stock car series. Miller also drove a limited schedule in the 2005 Trans-Am Series
.
races, driving for LeRoy Throop, driving the #08 MSW Spyders Pontiac
in four events. He made four races, and had a 2nd-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway
. The next year, in 1986, he went to victory lane at the Indianapolis Raceway Park. That same season, he made his Winston Cup debut, finishing 16th in his first race. He ran two Cup races the next season for Throop, and then two races in the #31 Slender You Figure Salons Oldsmobile
for Bob Clark in 1988. In 1989, he returned to Throop in the #51 for nine races. Despite getting sponsorship from Fruit of the Loom
, he was only able to finish two races. He signed with Travis Carter Enterprises to drive the #98 Chevrolet Lumina
for 1990, with sponsorship from Banquet Foods
, IGA
, and Piggy Wiggly. He drove in the first 23 races of the season, and had a career-best 8th-place finish at Pocono Raceway
, but was released near the end of the season.
He ran his first full Busch Series season in 1991, beginning in the #52 31-W Insulation Chevy with Day Enterprise Racing. He won his most recent race early in the season at Hickory, but left in the middle of the season to join the #75 Food Country U.S.A. Oldsmobile
for Henderson Brothers Motorsports. In 1992, as he scored 10 top tens and finished 7th in points. He ran nine races in 1993 before he was released, and spent the rest of the season out of NASCAR. He ran two Cup races in 1994, driving the #55 Ford Thunderbird
for RaDiUs Racing.
/Herrick Racing Ford. He won a race at Colorado National Speedway
beating Mike Skinner
by 0.001 seconds in the closest finish in series history and finished 4th in points. He continued to run full-time through 1998. He stayed with Herrick until the latter part of 1996, where he ran some races for Ernie Irvan
and Walker Evans
. He signed with Evans full-time for the 1997, where he had twelve top-tens in the #20 Orleans Hotel & Casino Ford. In 1998, Miller moved to L&R Racing as driver of the #18 Dana Corporation Dodge Ram
. He fell to fifteenth in points, but took the #18 and Dana to Bobby Hamilton Racing
for the 1999 season. Miller made nine races in 1999 for Hamilton when he resigned from the team to move back to the Busch Series, replacing Stanton Barrett
in the #40 Channellock
Chevy for Galaxy Motorsports. He had two top-ten finishes in six starts, but after two consecutive DNQ's, he was released.
More importantly, Butch Miller won the most prestigious stock car race in America - The Snowball Derby - in 1987.
's ASA team, as well serving as a broadcaster for ASA races. He returned to the Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway
, finishing seventeenth in the #61 Delco Remy/Team Rensi Motorsports
Chevrolet Silverado
. A few weeks later, he returned to Henderson and the Busch Series and made ten starts, his best finish being a fifteenth. After another year out of the series, he returned to drive a pair of Truck races in the #20 Timber Wolf
for Ken Weaver
and #08 ASI Limited for Gene Christensen, respectively. The following season, he drove in three races for Green Light Racing, and had a tenth-place finish at Mansfield Motorsports Park. He ran another pair of races for Green Light in 2006, but could not finish higher than 26th. After another season off, he drove in nine races for Green Light in the #0/#07 Silverado for SS-Green Light, but did not finish a race. He will drive the #08 for Green Light in 2009.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
. He drives the #07 Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8 engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year...
part time in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series on a limited basis, and is also a crew chief
Pit stop
In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...
for SS-Green Light Racing. He is a multiple champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
stock car series. Miller also drove a limited schedule in the 2005 Trans-Am Series
Trans-Am Series
The Trans-Am Series is an automobile racing series which was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship it has evolved over time from its original format as a manufacturers championship for modified racing sedans...
.
Early career
In 1985, Miller ran his first Busch SeriesBusch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
races, driving for LeRoy Throop, driving the #08 MSW Spyders Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
in four events. He made four races, and had a 2nd-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. The next year, in 1986, he went to victory lane at the Indianapolis Raceway Park. That same season, he made his Winston Cup debut, finishing 16th in his first race. He ran two Cup races the next season for Throop, and then two races in the #31 Slender You Figure Salons Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
for Bob Clark in 1988. In 1989, he returned to Throop in the #51 for nine races. Despite getting sponsorship from Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
, he was only able to finish two races. He signed with Travis Carter Enterprises to drive the #98 Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Lumina
The North American Chevrolet Lumina sedan , coupe and minivan were first introduced in 1989 for the 1990 model year as a new range of vehicles from the Chevrolet brand of General Motors to replace the Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Celebrity sedan, and the Monte Carlo coupe. The Lumina was an answer...
for 1990, with sponsorship from Banquet Foods
Banquet Foods
Banquet Foods is a subsidiary of ConAgra Foods that sells various food products, notably frozen pre-made entrées, meals, and desserts.Banquet was founded in 1953, with the introduction of frozen meat pies. Banquet first hit the store shelves in 1955, offering frozen dinners. Soon after that,...
, IGA
IGA (supermarkets)
IGA is a brand of grocery stores active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store business model, IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them...
, and Piggy Wiggly. He drove in the first 23 races of the season, and had a career-best 8th-place finish at Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
, but was released near the end of the season.
He ran his first full Busch Series season in 1991, beginning in the #52 31-W Insulation Chevy with Day Enterprise Racing. He won his most recent race early in the season at Hickory, but left in the middle of the season to join the #75 Food Country U.S.A. Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
for Henderson Brothers Motorsports. In 1992, as he scored 10 top tens and finished 7th in points. He ran nine races in 1993 before he was released, and spent the rest of the season out of NASCAR. He ran two Cup races in 1994, driving the #55 Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
for RaDiUs Racing.
Truck Series
In 1995, he joined the fledging Craftsman Truck Series, driving the #98 RaybestosRaybestos
Raybestos is a brand of automotive brakes begun in 1902 by Arthur H. Raymond and Arthur F. Law of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1906 Raymond and Law invented the woven brake lining, an important innovation in automotive brakes. From 1919-1989 Raybestos brand was manufactured by Raymark Industries,...
/Herrick Racing Ford. He won a race at Colorado National Speedway
Colorado National Speedway
Colorado National Speedway is a paved oval in Dacono, Colorado spanning . The track is currently a member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and hosts the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West annually....
beating Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
by 0.001 seconds in the closest finish in series history and finished 4th in points. He continued to run full-time through 1998. He stayed with Herrick until the latter part of 1996, where he ran some races for Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan
Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers...
and Walker Evans
Walker Evans
Walker Evans was an American photographer best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans's work from the FSA period uses the large-format, 8x10-inch camera...
. He signed with Evans full-time for the 1997, where he had twelve top-tens in the #20 Orleans Hotel & Casino Ford. In 1998, Miller moved to L&R Racing as driver of the #18 Dana Corporation Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
. He fell to fifteenth in points, but took the #18 and Dana to Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia was a former NASCAR racing team. It was owned by four-time NEXTEL Cup winner and 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton until his death on January 7, 2007. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. was given ownership after the death of his father, but the younger...
for the 1999 season. Miller made nine races in 1999 for Hamilton when he resigned from the team to move back to the Busch Series, replacing Stanton Barrett
Stanton Barrett
Stanton Thomas Barrett is a NASCAR driver and Hollywood stuntman. He has driven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series, as well in the IZOD IndyCar Series.-NASCAR:...
in the #40 Channellock
Channellock
Channellock is an American company that produces hand tools. It is best known for its pliers—the company manufactures more than 120 types of pliers—particularly its eponymous style of tongue-and-groove, slip-joint pliers...
Chevy for Galaxy Motorsports. He had two top-ten finishes in six starts, but after two consecutive DNQ's, he was released.
More importantly, Butch Miller won the most prestigious stock car race in America - The Snowball Derby - in 1987.
Return to racing
After that season, Miller stayed out of driving until 2002, serving briefly as crew chief for Larry FoytLarry Foyt
Larry Joseph Roberds Foyt is a semi-retired NASCAR and IndyCar driver. He is the biological grandson and adopted son of A. J. Foyt, and a biological cousin of A. J. Foyt IV. His biological mother is Terry Lynn Foyt, daughter of A. J. Foyt, who divorced his biological father Larry Gene Roberds...
's ASA team, as well serving as a broadcaster for ASA races. He returned to the Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, finishing seventeenth in the #61 Delco Remy/Team Rensi Motorsports
Team Rensi Motorsports
Team Rensi Motorsports is a NASCAR Nationwide Series team owned by Ed Rensi, Gary Weisbaum, and formerly Sam Rensi. The team has also competed in the Winston Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA racing series...
Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
. A few weeks later, he returned to Henderson and the Busch Series and made ten starts, his best finish being a fifteenth. After another year out of the series, he returned to drive a pair of Truck races in the #20 Timber Wolf
Swedish Match
Swedish Match is a Swedish company based in Stockholm that makes snus, tobacco, cigars , Red Man Chewing Tobacco, dipping tobacco, matches and lighters. It was founded as Svenska Tändsticksaktiebolaget by Ivar Kreuger in 1917 in Jönköping...
for Ken Weaver
Ken Weaver
For the rock musician, see Ken Weaver .Ken Weaver is a former NASCAR driver from Dallas, Texas. He drives the 20 PhoneCo – Industrial Lightspeed Chevrolet in the ARCA stock car series. He ran in NASCAR in 2004 and 2005, before returning to ARCA.- Craftsman Truck Series career :Weaver has 24 career...
and #08 ASI Limited for Gene Christensen, respectively. The following season, he drove in three races for Green Light Racing, and had a tenth-place finish at Mansfield Motorsports Park. He ran another pair of races for Green Light in 2006, but could not finish higher than 26th. After another season off, he drove in nine races for Green Light in the #0/#07 Silverado for SS-Green Light, but did not finish a race. He will drive the #08 for Green Light in 2009.