By Frank Vehorn

HAMPTON, VA -December 4, 2005- Derek Miller, with a little help from older brother Travis, won his second straight Arena Racing USA Top Dog race Saturday night in front of more than 5,000 race fans in the Hampton Coliseum.

The crowd unofficially was the largest to see an Arena Racing USA event since it began operation four years ago. D. Miller had the speed in his car while T. Miller provided some fender muscle during a crash-bank 50-lapper finale.

T. Miller was battling pole-sitter Matt Midgett for the lead on the 14th lap when they banged together and spun in the second turn. The two leaders were put at the rear of the field while D. Miller assumed the lead.

On the 36th lap, T. Miller got into Ken Simmons, who was second at the time and trying to overtake D. Miller.

With Simmons fored to the rear, Kerry Gilbert moved into second place but he lost the position to Chris Florian while D. Miller charged to the checkered flag.

T. Miller led all the way to win the A-Main in which his brother finished second. The win unofficially boosted D. Miller into the points lead. C.E. Falk, the points leader after the first two races, did not compete and it was announced before the start of the races that he had been suspended because of rough driving in last week’s race at Norfolk.

The pole was the place to be in the first two 50-lap features. Shag Hartman won the B Main from the No. 1 starting position and Travis Fortune led all the way to win the C Main.

But there were plenty of action behind both of the leaders. Indeed, Hartman had to dodge a four-car pile up in the second turn on the 36th lap before continuing on to his victory. Four cars also flipped onto their roofs in his rear view mirror during his journey to the checkered flag.

Tempers flared in the C Main as both Stephen Kirby and Rob Wells were disqualified. Each driver accused the other of causing him to flip his car on different laps.

The most heated exchange, though, came in the A Main. Bobby Dean accused Gilbert of causing his car to roll on the 42nd lap. The two had to be separated following the race.

The next race will be in the Hampton Coliseum on Jan. 7 following an extended break for the Christmas holidays.

RESULTS

RESULTS of Saturday night’s Arena Racing USA races at the Hampton Coliseum:

Top Dog: 1. Derek Miller, 2. Chris Florian, 3. Kerry Gilbert, 4. Francis Jarelle, 5. Ken Simmons, 6. R.J. Davis, 7. Denver Alvis, 8. Travis Miller, 9. Travis Fortune, 10. Matt Midgett, 11. Shag Hartman, 12. Travis Wall, 13. Lee Banks, 14. Dane Wood.

A Main: 1. Travis Miller, 2. Derek Milller, 3. Ken Simmons, 4. Matt Midgett, 5. Kerry Gilbert, 6. Chris Florian, 7. Jack Parsons, 8. Aaron Adams, 9. Bill Dailey, 10. Steve Green, 11. Bobby Dean, 12. Larry Murphy.

B Main: 1. Shag Hartman, 2. Denver Alvis, 3. R.J. Davis, 4. Travis Wall, 5. Chris Crecelius, 6. Michelle Pearl, 7. Patrick Morgan, 8. John Farrer, 9. Greg Pass, 10. Randy Sample, 11. Jordan Wood, 12. Scott Prillaman. DQ – Rob Wells, Stephen Kirby.

C Main: 1. Travis Fortune, 2. Lee Banks, 3. Dane Wood, 4. Francis Jarelle, 5. John Price, 6. Craig Rayfield, 7. Don Guschel, 8. Rob Wells, 9. Stephen Kirby, 8. Christy Emerson, 9. Dan Manherz, 10. Roger Miller.

1ST Heat: 1. Bobby Dean, 2. Aaron Adams, 3. Chris Florian, 4. Derek Miller, 5. R.J. Davis.

2nd Heat: 1. Travis Miller, 2. Bill Dailey, 3. Kerry Gilbert, 4. Jack Parsons, 5. Travis Wall.

3rd Heat: 1. Ken Simmons, 2. Larry Murphy, 3. Matt Midgett, 4. Steve Green, 5. Shag Hartman.

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