BUFFALOTWP — Mike Miller has frequented victory lane before.

Driving his No. 72 Pure Stock, the 32-year-old Chicora resident won a feature at Lernerville Speedway in July 2001, then repeated the feat a week later at Tri-City.

He's also won lawn mower races at Shadetreee Speedway.

Now Miller is trying to step up his game in the Modified division, but has found the going a bit rough.

"This is my third year and I've hardly even been out there (on the track), it seems,"Miller said.

Miller bought his Modified from Vic Coffey in New York in 2004, but didn't get it on the track until last season. He didn't make many races last year because of carburetor problems.

His best finish in a Modified feature was 13th late last season at Tri-City.

"The first night we put another carburetor in the car, I was running fifth or sixth in a feature at Lernerville and lost a tire,"Miller said. "That would have been the best run of my life.

"We've only been out twice so far this year, but I think we'll make the shows on a regular basis, finally."

Miller finished 14th in the Modified feature at Lernerville last week.

His pit crew consists of his brother, Jeff Miller, a former Modified driver, along with Basil Luchkiw and Gary Shutak, all from Butler.

Miller recognizes he's a long way from contending for a stop at victory lane in this division.

"It's a whole new game,"he said. "The best Modified drivers in the area run here. Brian Swartzlander, Jim Weller, Kevin Bolland, Dave Murdick — these guys have been at this for years.

"Jeff's been doing the set-up on the car and Tom Winkle and his crew have been a big help to us."

Miller pits next to Winkle, a veteran Modified driver from Mars.

"It's been a slow process because of all that's happened to the car,"Luchkiw said. "But Mike's coming along and the car's coming along.

"It takes a while to adjust to everything. We're learning as we go."

Luchkiw has been working with Miller's team since the latter moved into the Modified division.

"This is a challenge to us to see how well we can do,"Luchkiw said. "We know the odds are against us, but this is a hobby to us. It's a fun way to spend Friday nights."

Miller plans to stick with the Modified division.

"You have to start somewhere and I'm patient," he said. "I doubt I'll have the money to move up to a Late Model, but that's OK.

"My goal this year is to be a little more competitive and finish as high in points as I can. The driver can do a lot more with a Modified car than a Pure Stock and we're only now scratching the surface that way."

Miller has accumulated only 15 points thus far in 2006, leaving him near the bottom of the Modified points list at Lernerville.

"My first night out was last week with the (BRP)Modified Tour,"he said. "That wasn't the ideal time to start, but at least we got the car on the track. That's Step One."

Lernerville Points StandingsTop 15 through May 12SprintsEd Lynch Jr. 96, Rod George 90, Ralph Spithaler 90, Arnie Kent 81, Kevin Schaefer 79, Cory Good 79, Brent Matus 75, Skip Daugherty 75, Carl Bowser 61, Mike Shearer 60, Gary Rankin 56, Terry Bowser 56, Scott Bonnell 52, Scott Priester 51, Dan Holtgraver 51

Late ModelsLynn Geisler 105, Ken Schaltenbrand 86, Dave Hess Jr. 80, Matt Lux 72, Jared Miley 67, Gary Lyle 66, John Flinner 56, Sam Stile 54, Chris Schneider 54, Bob Wearing Jr. 53, Carl McKinney 53, Mike Blose 53, Tony Burke 53, Chuck Kennedy 46, Alex Ferree 46

ModifiedsBrian Swartzlander 108, Kevin Bolland 104, Dave Murdick 104, Tom Winkle 92, Jim Weller Jr. 85, J.R.McGinley 65, Mark Flick 65, Del Rougeux Jr. 65, Jim Weller III62, Tom Mattocks 49, Skip Moore 47, Dean Pearson 42, Tim Doran 42, Mike Turner 37

Pure StocksButch Lambert 114, Mike Pegher Jr. 105, Jason Fosnaught 89, Greg Beach 85, Wayne Carbo 82, Bob Egley 81, Jake Ayers 79, Paul Schreckengost 73, Terry Young 67, Pat Hanley 65, Jim Fosnaught 55, Shawn Thorn 51, Tony Iarrapino 51, Dave Baker 50, Nick Reges 38