PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY , STEVE PARSONS , AND BILL TRUBY |
Greg Miller has had a long career in drag racing , and he ’ s probably best known for being the track manager of Pennsylvania ’ s Keystone Raceway on two separate occasions . “ I first took over managing Keystone in 2009 and then left to go manage Quaker City in Ohio after Norm Fox bought the track . I returned to Keystone in 2012 and have been here ever since ,” he says . Miller ’ s involvement at Keystone can be traced back much further than when he first took over as track manager . “ I actually got a job running the computer in the tower when I was 14 .” Back then , the Chantilly family owned the track and Miller delivered their newspaper , so naturally his nickname at the track was “ The Paperboy .” Miller has done his fair share of racing at the southwest Pennsylvania facility as well , even winning the track championship back in the day .
In recent years , Miller has overseen massive improvements to the aging facility , which was built in 1967 . A brand-new tower was constructed atop the bleachers on the spectator side of the facility , while new wiring and electrical upgrades were installed throughout the facility . The former tower was torn down and replaced with a spacious building that features a comfortable employee room with a number of amenities . The Gear Head Gift Shop is another newly-constructed upgrade , featuring a sprawling souvenir building , as well as a concession stand on the end of the building .
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The racing surface was also overhauled , with brand-new concrete stretching out to 350 feet .
With the facility in tip-top shape for the 2024 season , the only thing Miller was lacking was good weather . “ It ’ s been a real struggle this year ,” he says . In fact , of the first 18 race days scheduled , 15 of them were rained out . April and May were nearly complete washouts , with the lone exception being the first completed bracket race , which
Keystone Raceway track manager Greg Miller ( right ) with “ Big Daddy ” Don Garlits .
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finally took place in late April .
“ Mother Nature marinated me for two months , then threw me in the smoker ,” he laughs , referring to the torrential downpours , followed by sweltering heat that arrived in June and lingered for months . “ We had 19 Funny Cars here on July 13 , but the spectator turnout was way down since it was 100 degrees that day . Who wants to sit on aluminum bleachers when it ’ s that hot ?” he says .
Early August ushered in very pleasant weather , just in time for a scheduled track rental . The 22nd annual Night of Fire event was slated for the following week ( August 22 ) and featured a wide assortment of entertainment , including jet Funny Cars , a jet truck , jet dragsters , AA gassers , along with nitro Funny Cars and legendary IHRA competitor Bruce Litton in his Top Fuel dragster . Each year , the event traditionally concludes with a huge fireworks display .
Also returning in 2024 is Michael Beard ’ s Staging Light bracket event , now in its 10th year . The Sherwin Williams bracket points series closes out the month of August . The Southern Bracket Racing Association ( SBRA ) also visits Keystone and runs in conjunction with the regular bracket program .
“ This is also our second year of WDRA sanction , and couldn ’ t be happier with our involvement . The WDRA is an organization that works for the tracks and for the racers . They really care and it shows ,” says Miller .
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September / October 2024 |
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