The battle between Miller and Todd Lamb for the race win started at the drop of the green and continued the entire race.

"Todd made a small mistake in Turn Nine that allowed me to get just the right type of run,” Miller said. “It allowed me to get to the inside of him and we did make a little bit of contact. I don’t expect anyone to give me anymore than an inch and Todd gave me an inch. I got a little sideways in the middle of the corner, had to correct, and, unfortunately, made contact with him. We already talked about it. It was a racing incident and certainly not intentional.”

Though Miller continued to fill the mirror’s of Lamb’s No. 84 AMG/Traqmate/Luna-C Racing MX-5, no further opportunities for a pass would present themselves, even as the pair dodged lapped traffic. Lamb won the 25-lap, 56.25-mile contest by 0.997-second, setting the fastest lap of the race, a 1:35.965 (84.405 mph).

“Team MER gave me a car that was really consistent, great under braking and it rolled through the middle of the corner really well,” Miller recalled. “In Turns One, Two and in the Chicanes it worked really well, then again through Turn Eight. Our biggest problem was coming out of Turn Nine onto the long straightaway, which is probably the most important turn, so we’ve got a little bit of work to do tonight to make it better for tomorrow.

“I felt that we ran each other clean through the whole race and it was definitely a tough race keeping up with Todd. Hopefully, if we do our homework, we’ll be able to get him tomorrow.”

Zach Ply had a hard fought battle with Justin Piscitell for the final podium spot and just missed out by less than half a second. The career high 4th place finish was good enough to move Ply up to 3rd place in the Championship Points Standings.

Jeff Mosing and Chris Rhoades finished 8th and 9th respectively making four of the top ten drivers from Team MER.