DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rhys Millen took the checkered flag in the inaugural Red Bull Global Rallycross at Daytona International Speedway in August.
But there wasn't much of a crowd to cheer to cheer him on. In fact, the mighty Speedway, which holds upwards of 190,000, was lucky if there were a hundred spectators. But the spectators who dared challenge the hot Florida sun in two bleacher sections saw Rhys Millen take the checkered flag in this high-flying race on dirt and asphalt, even as his engine failed on the final lap.
With the win, Millen became the fifth different winner in six races in this daredevil motor-sport series, featuring souped-up compact cars that look somewhat like the racing demons in the movie series, "The Fast & The Furious."
Millen's win comes in at No. 94 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2014.
Driving for his own Hyundai-backed team, beat Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block and Subaru Rally Team USA’s Bucky Lasek to the line.
“To my team, really is where I need to tip my where I tip my hat,” Millen said.
Having qualified fourth, Millen overcame a cam belt failure in the previous day's heats to take the win in his semifinal and earn the top starting position in the main event here under a hot Saturday sun.
“The car put a huge smile on my face in our test (earlier int the week)" he said. "We came here and, in the first time all year that we had a track this long, we were very surprised with where we were and how amazing the car brakes and turns into tight corners. That was the recipe to get the job done here.”
“To my team, really is where I need to tip my hat,” Rhys Millen said after his Rallycar win Saturday, Aug. 23, at Daytona International Speedway. “The car put a huge smile on my face in our test on Monday. We came here and, in the first time all year that we had a track this long, we were very surprised with where we were and how amazing the car brakes and turns into tight corners. That was the recipe to get the job done here.”
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