(Courtesy Gillett Evernham Motorsports)

Chase Miller to Debut No. 9 Verizon Wireless Motorola Dodge at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. - Chase Miller picked one heck of a historic track to debut his new sponsor in the Nationwide Series this weekend.

Miller, 21, will be making his ninth career start this weekend at Darlington Raceway, but first with Verizon Wireless Motorola on the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Dodge. Miller has never seen the newly repaved track "Too Tough to Tame" in person


Chase Miller Quotes

Thoughts on making first start at Darlington: "Not only did I know this day was going to come if I got to this level, but I welcome the challenge of this weekend. I mean, Darlington is what NASCAR is all about. Oddly shaped track, steeped in history and tradition with so many great names who have tamed the track - it's amazing. After watching so many races on TV just wishing I could drive there, it's now a reality. I'm not only looking forward to my first Darlington start, but Verizon Wireless Motorola is making their debut, too. I just hope we have a great showing for them.

What are your goals for the weekend: "First, I want to get out there and get a feel for the track. I don't have any notes to go off of from past experience, but I know you have to hit your marks very carefully. Elliott Sadler told me it was a rhythm track where, if you don't hit those marks, you get penalized by losing speed and positions. So, I'm going to go for consistency. And, most important - finish the race and put it on the trailer in one piece."

Team Director Kirk Almquist Quotes: "We are using one of our favorite cars this weekend. It will be interesting with the new track surface at Darlington, the high speeds and Chase making his first start there. Our goals are pretty much what Chase already said; finish the race and try to run in the top-15. If we can do that, it will be a solid effort for this team."


Car info: The No. 9 NNS team will be using GEM No. B-21, previously used at Vegas (8th), Atlanta (9th) and Nashville; where Miller finished 15th.


Tune in: There will be three practices on Friday with qualifying taking place at 3:10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday. Don't go too far, because racing begins on ESPN2 and MRN Radio at 7:30 p.m. for 147 laps of action under the lights.


Miller History

• This is Miller's third start of 2008 and ninth career NNS race; all with Gillett Evernham Motorsports

• He started 16th and finished 14th at Nashville; started 25th and finished 19th at Phoenix

• He qualified on the outside pole at Kentucky last season; only his second start.


Bio

• Miller, 21, hails from Canton, Ga. where he started racing at age five.

• During his 2006 ARCA season, Miller won at Pocono Raceway and earned a pole at Gateway International Raceway as part of the Dodge Developmental driver program.

• Later that year, he finished out the season for Bobby Hamilton Racing in their No. 4 Dodge Ram Truck. During his eight-race stint with them, he earned a top-10 at Martinsville Speedway in only his fourth start.

• In 2007, he made his first Nationwide Series start with GEM at Nashville and drove a total of six races earning the outside pole at Kentucky.