CALGARY, AB – It’s been more than a week since Mark Miller won his first season championship in dramatic style at Central Alberta Raceway’s. In a championship race that can only be described as a monster roller coaster ride, the Calgary, Alberta driver is still amazed how he wrapped up 2014 in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. “It was a wild, wild run at the end,” exclaims Miller, “this was a highlight reel for the team more than the driver.” Miller entered the final race weekend of the 2014 season with a 10 point cushion over two-time and defending NPP Series champion Kevin Wheeler and 32 points more than two-time champion Dwight Kennedy. “I’ll admit that there was some nerves but we knew what needed to be done.” Any jitters about NPP Series Championship Weekend all but vanished after Miller drove his A-1 Autobody Chevrolet to a third place finish in the Saturday night Feature.

The podium finish bolstered Miller’s cushion to 31 points heading into the final NPP Series race of 2014. “This is a very tough Series,” adds Miller, “we learned that in our first season [in 2013]. It’s a great bunch of guys to go racing against.” All drivers were forced to cope with dry slick track conditions on the final race day of the season in Rimbey, Alberta. “The track conditions weren’t the best, ” says Miller, “but you just have to deal with it.” Miller finished second in Sunday’s qualifying Heat which meant an automatic trip to the double point’s ‘A’ Dash race. Joining Miller in the race, which sets the lineup for the Feature, were the two drivers directly behind him in the standings. “Drawing the pole position for the ‘A’ Dash sure helped but I kind of threw it away.”

On the opening lap of the ‘A’ Dash, Miller backed his car into the wall. This kicked off a bizarre chain of events for Team Miller. “I didn’t think it was that hard of a hit. Head to the back of the pack and start over.” Miller re-gained several of his lost spots after the restart and got ahead of Wheeler and Kennedy once again. “It was a bit of a blur after that. The rear end of the car dropped down. A half a lap later I’m involved in a crash with both Kevin and Dwight.” The top three cars in the 2014 NPP Series Championship points chase sat motionless on the track. Millers car was towed from the track to the pits.

“At first you see everyone’s emotions seeing the car getting brought back. This is never a good experience. Then the questions start flying. What the heck can we do to get back out there.” Millers crew was now battling against the clock. “If we didn’t get back out on the track [for the Feature] the championship was gone. Absolutely. I had confidence in my crew. I knew they would find a way to patch the car back together.” With the NPP Series Official Pace car on the track, Miller was the last driver to leave the pits. “I wish we could have been more competitive at the last race.”

Miller laboured his patched up race car around the track and finished 7th in the crash filled finale in Rimbey, Alberta securing enough points to clinch the 2014 NPP Series Championship. “It’s not just the driver that’s going to win a championship. The last race proved that you need a good crew behind you.” Miller would have finished ninth if he had missed the final NPP Series Feature. At 27 years of age, Miller is the youngest champion in NPP Late Model Series history. Edson, Alberta’s Dennis MacEachern has held the honor since winning his first NPP Series championship back in 2002, also at the age of 27. Miller edged out MacEachern in the age department by just 5 months and 13 days.