Chicora resiodent Mike Miller, right, shares a moment with Pro Stock car owner and good friend Ron Thompson in the pits last Friday at Lernerville Speedway.

BUFFALO TWP — Mike Miller knows how to pick his friends — and his friend knew to pick him.

Miller, 47, of Chicora, has been racing for 30 years at Lernerville Speedway. Butler resident Ron Thompson has a lot to do with much of that.

“I've known the Thompson family all my life,” Miller said. “I grew up in Butler and Ron's family's house was right near us.

“His dad was involved in racing. I used to ride my bicycle past there, stop in and help clean stuff off while they were working on the car. Ron and I became good friends growing up.”

Thompson wound up driving a Pure Stock for nearly 10 years. He decided to stop driving a race car and start preparing one for his daugher, Christina.

“She had won a go-kart championship and had interest in running a Pure Stock,” Thompson said. “Then she got engaged to be married and everything changed.”

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