It's Miller Time: Tuner Jamie Miller Is Always Up For The Task|
Growing up in the pocket-size Connecticut town of Wallingford, Jamie Miller had big dreams almost what he hoped he could do in drag racing.
As a top crew chief across a multifariousness of classes these days, that goal has been more than than met, but here'south a number to perfectly indicate only how in-need Miller is these days – 185,000.
That's the incredible number of miles Miller flew final year as a crew chief, tuning cars for what he estimates was 42 weeks out of the yr. His tuning expertise has taken him to Sweden, Bahrain and Australia, farther proof that any his original dream was, he's surpassed information technology and and so some.
"To exist out here, it's unbelievable," Miller says. "I recollect watching guys like Rickie Smith, just wanting to be a part of it. If I could ever race with guys similar that, it would be awesome. We're on the road a lot, merely this is like the ultimate deal. Information technology's a much amend day that just sitting in an office. It'southward actually unbelievable to make a living doing this."
After spending fourth dimension as a chassis fabricator, Miller joined the Pro Line Racing team in 2011 every bit a tuner.
Before that, he as well served as the coiffure chief on Jason Enos' Outlaw 10.5 car. The team consulted with Steve Piddling, and as Miller built a good relationship with Petty, the opportunity with Pro Line soon came.
Since then, Miller has established himself every bit a jack-of-all trades tuner. He'south well-known for his tuning prowess on Michael Biehle'due south Pro Mod Mustang on the NHRA Pro Modern circuit, only Miller is as diverse as they go.
He works on drag radial cars endemic by the likes of Ken Quartuccio, cars in Outlaw 632 and more than. No matter the ability adder, Miller can put together a winning package, an aspect that's helped him immensely along the way.
"In doing that, it'south helped me become a lot more well-rounded," Miller says. "The more you work on multiple cars, the more y'all see all the piddling things. You're trying to nitpick through the whole and when you're able to do that, the result is a faster ET and more MPH."
Beingness well-rounded when information technology comes to unlike types of cars has paid dividends, but at that place's things Miller is ever looking for, no matter the power adder.
"I've learned it's all almost ability management," Miller says. "You can accept different combinations, simply ability management and learning how to decipher wheel speed and the G-meter is key. You lot're just trying to get the automobile to accelerate as fast equally you tin.
"For example, if you're running a nitrous car on radials and a turbo car on radials, there'south plenty of things that go manus in hand. Information technology doesn't matter the ability adder, you lot're trying to make the tire stick to the rails with no spin."
Miller loves the challenge and he's thrived in nigh every expanse. Some of it comes from Miller'south expertise, feel and willingness to larn likewise. But there'south as well an intense desire to win, and information technology's an infectious part of the unabridged Pro Line team. Information technology becomes evident on every squad Miller works with, and it's a mindset that brings out the all-time in him besides.
"I'm just like the guys I'yard spending a lot of time with and I accept the same drive as they do," Miller says. "When it comes down to it, I want to win just as bad as they do. I've worked on customers' cars that had multiple people work on it and not be successful, so when you lot take something that's been a struggle for a big group of people and make it fast and competitive, that'southward super gratifying."
Biehle and Miller have been an impressive duo, starting with their success in the NMCA and PDRA. They made the leap to the NHRA Pro Mod ranks, taking on the immense challenge in the grade. There'due south been ups and downs, but Miller has enjoyed the thrill of competing with the elite in the class. He tuned Biehle's new Mustang to a career-best 5.690 at Gainesville to open the twelvemonth, and they'll look to brand an impact at Indy to starting time the last stretch of the 2022 flavor.
Information technology'south that claiming that brings out the best in him, which also makes him a perfect fit aslope the other talented tuners at Pro Line.
"The class keeps evolving and information technology keeps getting harder and harder," Miller believes. "Qualifying feels like winning the biggest race of the year. It'due south crazy. Winning the first circular is a feat in itself. It's so hard, but it's very rewarding.
"I'm merely lucky to exist where I'grand at. All this information and strategies we've accumulated, it's helped everybody on the team. It's a close-knit group and that'due south important. Nosotros take a common goal and that's to become every automobile competitive. We're all very much driven by success and I'm as competitive every bit anyone on the property."
This story was originally published in DI 148.
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