Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power last week announced that a landscaping equipment service technician from Minneapolis won a day of racing at the Bob Bondurant Racing School for finishing as the first runner-up in the Vanguard Power Chase competition.

Nigel Miller, who works for A-1 Outdoor Power, and three friends spent the day March 3 at the Bondurant racing school in Phoenix, driving a variety of high-performance vehicles and Pro Karts powered by Briggs & Stratton racing engines in a variety of on-course exercises.

The group competed in a time trial exercise on the race school’s autocross course, spent time on the evasive maneuvers course, completed a follow-the-leader exercise on Bondurant’s 1.6-mile, 15-turn race track and also spent time in the school’s skid cars. They also had a chance meeting with Bob Bondurant, the racing school’s founder and former professional racecar driver.

“The Bondurant experience was just incredible — everything about the place is first class,” Miller said. “Having an opportunity to spend a few minutes with a racing legend was especially meaningful.”

During the Vanguard Power Chase competition, hundreds of participants chose racecar drivers online in a “pick ‘em” style format for the final 10 races of the 2010 stockcar season. Points were awarded based on where the drivers finished.

“The Power Chase was intended to be something fun for all of our dealers and customers who play an integral role in the continued success of Vanguard engines,” said Dan Roche, marketing manager for Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power.

Justin Joerman placed first in the Power Chase, winning a four-day trip for two to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the Daytona 500 this past February.

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power is a provider of commercial power solutions. The Vanguard engine family is the company’s premier line of engines and includes single-cylinder engines from 2.4 to 15 gross horsepower, Vanguard V-Twin horizontal and vertical engines from 14 to 23 gross horsepower, and Vanguard air-cooled V-Twin Big Block engines from 25 to 35 gross horsepower (horizontal) and 28-36 gross horsepower (vertical).