Miller Wins Championship by One Point over Bilderback

By: Kevin Ramsell
WEST SALEM, WI (Saturday, October 04, 2008) – It was 15 years ago this weekend that a young driver named Matt Kenseth held off Ken Lund to win the Oktoberfest 100 feature. Tonight, his 15-year-old son Ross took home his first Oktoberfest win by capturing the BRP Big 8 Series 48-lap feature event. Also Jeremy Miller defended his Big 8 Series championship as he won it by one point over Michael Bilderback.

“It’s just awesome, there is a lot of history here and you can by the names that have won here,” Kenseth stated in victory lane. “Dick Trickle was here and he is a really cool guy, it’s just cool to win here as well.”

Kenseth and Bobby Wilberg led the field to the green flag of the 48-lap feature event. At the break, it was Wilberg jumping to the lead over the rookie.

Wilberg had a five car-length lead on Kenseth until the caution flew on lap eight for Tyler Sauter’s spin in turn four.

On the re-start, a nine-car pile up slowed up the field to bring out the second caution. Fortunately, all were able to continue.

Kenseth looked to the inside of Wilberg on the re-start. Wilberg would hold on to the position but the young driver continued to look as ten laps were completed.

Kenseth would get on the inside of Wilberg going down the backstretch on lap 17. The two touched in turns three and four causing Wilberg to get loose coming off of turn four. Kenseth would power to the front and Michael Bachus would take over second.

“That was my best shot to get him, but I guess he decided to come down,” Kenseth stated. “I will take it any way I can get it.”

Two laps later, Brent Kirchner would run into the same situation with Wilberg in turns three and four and would take over the third position.

At the halfway mark, it was Kenseth with a ten-car lead over Bachaus with the same distance back to Kirchner in third. The best battle was for fourth between fast qualifier Bradley Powell and Ty Reedy. The two raced side-by-side until Powell was able to get the position on lap 28.

Kenseth continued to lead with 15-laps to go. Way back in the pack the battle for the championship got intense as Michael Bilderback was chased down by Jeremy Miller. Miller would get past him with 13 to go.

The caution flew on lap 36 when Ryan Miles spun in turn three at the time Bachaus was passing the lapped car.

On the re-start, Bachaus looked to the inside of Kenseth, but the door was shut and Kenseth held on to the top spot. Kenseth would begin to pull away.

With five laps to go, Kenseth continued to lead while Bachaus was being challenged by Kirchner for the second spot.

Bachaus was able to hold off Kirchner for the position, but at the checkered flag, it was Kenseth taking his second Big 8 Series win of the year.

Jeremy Miller got past Mike Ehde in the late stages of the race. That move proved to be important as he was able to defend his Big 8 Series championship by one point over Michael Bilderback who finished 11th.

For Miller, winning the championship was a great end to a stressful day as he had to win the last chance race to get into the feature field.

“We worked and worked and worked. The car was good in practice and when we went out to qualify it was dead sideways,” Miller stated about his day. “We qualified 15th and had to come through the last chance race. But I am so happy with our run in the feature and have to thank my team.”

The Big 8 Series would like to thank BRP for their title sponsorship and Gandrud Chevrolet as the presenting sponsor to an incredible 2008 season. Please visit www.big8series.com for off-season updates.