MID-RACE ADJUSTMENTS PAY OFF FOR BRANDON MILLER AT ORP
IN POSTING 23RD PLACE FINISH IN #40 WESTERMAN COMPANIES CHEVY

CLAREMONT, INDIANA (July 28, 2007) – Brandon Miller’s second run for Key Motorsports in 2007 started with some frustration but ended on a positive note in the rookie driver’s 23rd place finish Friday night in the rain-delayed Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the O’Reilly Raceway Park.

The 25-year-old San Diego native struggled during the first half of the race with a tight #40 Westerman Companies Chevrolet Silverado. Track bar and air pressure adjustments just did not solve the problem that ended up costing Miller a lap twice in the race’s first 75 laps. Fortunately, cautions enabled Miller to earn the Lucky Dog award each time and to get that lost lap back.

Finally, Crew Chief Gary Showalter went the wedge route in an effort to solve the mystery, the first time coming on a lap 87 pit stop under yellow flag conditions when Showalter ordered two rounds down on the rear load bolt. The effort was repeated just 10 laps later during another caution period, and Miller finally was able to drive his Westerman Companies mount through the corners and challenge for position.

“I didn’t know whether the problem was me or the truck,” Miller explained. “I’d drive the truck fine into the corners but just could not drive the truck off the corner without it shooting towards wall. It was really frustrating,” he added.

However the wedge adjustments ended up being the solution and Miller remained on the lead lap over the next 78 laps while moving from the 32nd position to as high as 16th (on a lap 127 re-start). His lap times at one juncture late in the event were just a tick slower than the leaders, and only an unwanted yellow flag with just five laps remaining and a last-lap outside pass by Roush-Fenway Racing driver Peter Shepherd at the stripe kept Miller from recording an even better finish.

“I was safely ahead of the 50 (Shepherd) and 13 (Willie Allen) trucks and was running down the 09 (the Ford driven by Stacy Compton) when that caution came out with just five laps to go,” Miller stated.

“On that final re-start, I got boxed in behind the 09 down low coming into the fourth and final turn and the 50 (Shepherd) was able to get a good run on the outside and just nipped the two of us at the flag. I’m really disappointed that we didn’t finish ahead of both those trucks because we were better that both of them at the end,” Miller added.

“Once Brandon got the hang of it and began hitting his marks more regularly, he was able to race with other trucks. It just took a while for us to finally find out what the problem was,” Showalter said. “Brandon worked his tail off, though, and he earned better than a 23rd place finish, but we are all making progress together,” Showalter ended.

In his two races now for Key Motorsports and under the sponsorship of the Westerman Companies, Miller has finished just a lap down in each race despite having not raced in the NCTS for more than two years and showed marked improvement during the second half of both races.

“I’m getting the rust off and am gaining my confidence with each lap. I just hope to be able to continue that for Curtis (team owner Key), Gary, Tommy (Director of Competition Morgan) and the team in additional races this season,” Miller stated.