Michigan driver lands multi-year ride in NASCAR Xfinity Series
METAMORA native Vinnie Miller has signed a multi-year contract to race for BJ McLeod Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The 21-year old Miller will become the first full- time driver for the organization, which is based in Mooresville, N.C., and owned by McLeod, a Monster Energy Cup Series driver and his wife Jessica. The team was founded in 2016.
Miller is a graduate of Brandon High School in Ortonville, and he grew up racing on Michigan tracks like Owosso Speedway. He is racing the No. 01 JD Motorsports Chevrolet fulltime in Xfinity this season, and he’s 27th in the season point standings.
“I’m so excited about this opportunity with BJ,” Miller said in a statement. “From the first time we met we really hit it off. We are very similar in many ways including what we like to do outside the track. I am thrilled to be marked as their first full-time driver for BJ McLeod Motorsports and I know BJ will be a huge help in improving my performance on the track.”
Miller plans to run this season’s final six races with McLeod after coming to an agreement with JD Motorsports.
“I have to thank Johnny Davis (owner of JD Motorsports with Gary Keller), for the opportunity to run the No. 01 Camaro this year,” Miller said. “I owe a lot to my team and all they have done to help me improve race after race.”
Miller began racing quarter midgets as a child before moving to full-size stock cars at Owosso Speedway in Ovid. A track champion at the Owosso Speedway, Miller made the jump to the ARCA Racing Series in 2017, where he scored one top-five finish and six top-10 finishes in a handful of starts.
Miller was hired to drive for JDM this season. His best finish with the team came at Talladega Superspeedway in April, at 17th place finish. He matched that finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this month.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Vinnie on a multi-year deal to see what both, he and the team can do together,” McLeod said. “We are always trying to grow BJMM into a more successful team and having two years to work with Vinnie is going to help us do that.”