By john manzi for USHWA
She’s
known to her fans as “Hurricane Hannah” Miller because again this year she has
taken amateur racing by storm. For the dedicated 24-year-old miss it marks the
second consecutive season that she has earned the honor of being named the
National Amateur Driver of the Year.
And
it’s no surprise that Hannah has the right to claim the title again. Just look
at her accomplishments this past season; from 109 trips to post she won 31
races, had 20 seconds and 11 thirds for a whopping .420 UDR.
Along
the way Hannah danced every dance as a member of multiple amateur organizations
witnessed by her 109 trips to post, far and away more than any of her
counterparts. She won the combined points title for the second consecutive
season in the granddaddy of them all, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series,
and she won the points title in the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club Series last
summer. She’s traveled and won two races in two starts at Mohawk Raceway in
Canada and recently romped home a winner in the $25,000 Billings Series Final
at Harrah’s Chester on November 20.
And
when you factor in that she finished a very close second in the World Cup of
Amateur racing last fall in Budapest, Hungary losing top honors by just one
point against some of the world’s best amateur drivers it speaks volumes in
itself, especially since hers was the best performance ever by a U.S.
representative in the prestigious international event.
“I
am thrilled to be named the National Amateur Driver of the Year and there are a
lot of people that have helped me earn this award and I can't thank them
enough,” Hannah said via email. “They include Nick, who has put so much
time and effort into helping me with all my amateur endeavors, and all of the
trainers and owners that have given me the opportunity to drive for them. And
of course my family, who continuously provides support for me on and off the
track.”
For
the record Hannah’s dad is the outstanding trainer Erv Miller, who is fourth
all-time in training victories, and her brother Marcus is a rising star in the
sport.
Hannah's
spectacular performance this past fall in the prestigious World Cup of Amateur
Racing was an unexpected pleasure for the USA. She battled respected
international amateurs from 12 different countries in Budapest, Hungary and
produced the best results ever by an American participant.
“The
World Cup was a trip of a lifetime and although I would have liked to have won
it, I was honored just to be able to go and represent our country,” she said.
A
rather innocuous comment for someone who won two races and was the point leader
until the final contest where the Italian representative finished just one
point better than Hannah’s total.
“Still
I’m proud that I did well, although I would have loved to won it,” Hannah
explained.
Miller
has put a degree in business from the University of Central Florida on hold for
now while she drives in the amateur races.
“I’m
going to use the degree eventually, but right now I’m just having fun driving,”
she says.
