Parker Price-Miller’s biggest goal in sprint car racing is to become a World of Outlaws champion.
It’s the main goal for a lot of racers, like Price-Miller, that race the type of car nationally. Although, only 10 drivers have ever succeeded in doing so.
In 2021, Price-Miller took a big step towards it, looking to earn World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year in one of the most stout rosters the series as seen in the modern era.
However, after earning just three top 10 runs in the first 20 races of the season and going through two crew chiefs, Price-Miller dropped off of the tour to try and save some equity.
“We had a crew chief early on in the year,” Price-Miller said. “Things happened and we ended up splitting up. Then we ended up hiring Tyler Swank. We had some good runs, but we had more bad runs than good runs. Things just weren’t clicking. Tyler’s a great guy – I just wasn’t clicking with him and he wasn’t clicking with me.”
Price-Miller competed through the World of Outlaws’ return to Eldora Speedway in his own No. 19 car.
His best finishes were a pair of 8th-place runs at Volusia during the opening weekend and his hometown track in Kokomo, Indiana.
“We ran quite a bit (of the schedule),” Price-Miller said having completed 20 of the 80 or so races the series will run in 2021. “It’s grueling – especially when you’re not running good like we were. When you’re not running the Outlaw tour, you can go to the Outlaw races that you know – I’m good at this track, I’m gonna go run the Outlaws there because I know I’m going to have a strong run there. Then you can run a lower race and kind of get your confidence back. (On the Outlaws tour) you don’t really have time to really think about what you’re doing. You don’t have a night to give up.”
Price-Miller just thought that he was giving up too much.
It lead to him dropping off tour on May 13. Then, he got a call from Guy Forbrook – the owner of the No. 5 and a hall of fame crew chief.
“That same day, Forbrook called me and asked me if I wanted to run just Knoxville that weekend,” Price-Miller said while standing in the pits at Huset’s Speedway down the way from the Forbrook car. “We ran that weekend and it’s kind of lead into this. We’ve been fast together, so I’m gonna keep running for him as much as I can.”
The pair won a weekly show at Knoxville during their first race together this season – showing speeds Price-Miller knew he was capable of showing.
For the rest of the year, the plan will be for him to drive the Forbrook 5 when he can and hop in his own car if it isn’t available.
Price-Miller also said that longterm, he needs to find a crew chief for the No. 19.
“Honestly, I’m really enjoying doing what I’m doing now – just picking and choosing running where I want and when I want,” Price-Miller said. “It’d have to be a perfect deal for me to head back on the Outlaw tour. It’s something I want to do. I want to be a World of Outlaws champion someday – just like anyone out here. Whatever makes sense and whatever kind of crew chief I can find, if it’s something he wants to do I wouldn’t be opposed.”
Price-Miller has a few guys in mind to take over the role for his team.
It’s just a matter of whether or not he can get them.
“It’d have to depend on just how much experience that crew chief has,” Price-Miller said. “There’s a few guys I’ve talked to that I hope I can get. Just kind of all the factors play into it and I’m not too worried about it right now because there’s a lot of racing left this year. I’m enjoying racing for Guy right now and that could be an opportunity next year, too. It’s all up in the air.”
For now, Price-Miller will work with Forbrook in the 5 car, already collecting a pair of top 10’s in just five races against the World of Outlaws tour as well as a run to 11th on Tuesday night at the Huset’s 50.
They’ll join forces again this weekend at the Jackson Nationals.
“I really like working with Guy,” Price-Miller said. “He’s good for me. Everyone says he’s hard to drive for – he’s not like that with me. It’s good for me, I think. We work well together. We keep getting faster and hopefully we can go win some races.”
