EDMONTON, AB – Kelly Miller is an open wheel Sprint Car driver who calls Stirling, Alberta home.  For the past several seasons, Miller has spent a majority of his time racing and winning in the United States in his Dennis Dirtworx/Diesel R #2 Sprint Car.  With 7-wins under his belt already in 2026, Miller cast his eyes north to a race he’s tried to win numerous times in the past.  Miller was back in his home province to compete in the Gold Cup at Rad Torque Raceway.  It’s the first-time since 2019 the Edmonton, Alberta facility has had this event on the schedule**.  Looking back, Miller had competed at 11 previous Gold Cups in Edmonton.  His best finishes came in his last three appearances with 2nd place finishes at the 2019, 2018 and 2017 Gold Cup events (finished 3rd and 4th in 2013 and 2014).  Heading into the race weekend Miller would not be sporting his familiar car number.  He replaced the #2 with #81.  The number change came from a gentle ‘request’ from veteran engine builder Larry Miller (Kelly’s uncle).  The change in car number would be a visual thank-you to Northern Provincial Pipelines and owner Dwight Kennedy for sponsoring the 2026 Gold Cup race and also for his longtime support (30+ years) of grassroots racing in Alberta.  Kelly Miller, the 2024/25 American Sprint Car Series Champion, went one step further and placed a NPP logo on the top wing of his sprint car.

Gold Cup 2026 saw Miller setting fast-time in qualifying Friday night running a 13.885 second lap-time. In his Heat race the hard charging Miller finished second to an equally hard charging Matthew Dusseault (Sherwood Park, Alberta). Dusseault has been a constant challenger to Miller on the Frontier Sprint Car tour in the United States. In the Friday night Feature it took just 5-laps for Miller to begin lapping traffic. It was the lapped traffic that also ended Millers dominating performance. With half the field lapped Miller got caught up in a three-car tangle with 6-laps remaining. Despite a DNF, Miller was still credited with an 8th place finish. Decklyn Fleming, son of 8-time Rad Torque Raceway season champion Wade Fleming, won the Friday night Feature.

Saturday night was Gold Cup championship night. Due to the potential for severe weather later in the evening track officials cancelled single car qualifying for Sprint Cars and went directly into the Heat races. Miller kicked off his evening with a Heat race win. With severe weather less than an hour way from the track a 6-car dash to determine the starting line-up was scrapped. The line-up was set by points. Kelly Miller would be pole sitter. The Stirling, Alberta driver would prevail and drive to victory claiming his first Gold Cup win in his 12th-attempt. Helena, Montana’s Trevor Kirkland was second and Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Matthew Dusseault finished third. The decision to expedite the race schedule paid off. Just 15-minutes after the checkered flag flew light sprinkles of rain turned into a downpour with gusting winds to 70kph.

**The Gold Cup was brought back to life through the hard work of 8-time Rad Torque Raceway Champion Wade Fleming.  Fleming won the 1997 Gold Cup in the Northern Provincial Pipelines #7 ‘360’ Sprint Car.

BREAKING NEWS
EDSON, AB (July 21) – Northern Provincial Pipelines will be a support sponsor to Stirling, Alberta’s Kelly Miller and his Dennis Dirtworx/DIesel R sprint car at the 65th annual Knoxville Nationals which runs August 12 – 15 in Knoxville, Iowa.  Miller has announced that he will once again run the #81 on his car as a thank-you to NPP owner and long time motorsports sponsor and supporter Dwight Kennedy.