Reggie Miller to race in Dust Bowl 100 in Putnam County next month

Pacer legend Reggie Miller will be in Putnam County on July 22 as part of the Dust Bowl 100 bicycle race.

Instagram/REGGIE MILLER

When hundreds of cyclists take to the dusty roads of Putnam County next month, an Indiana sports legend will be among them.

Reggie Miller, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers, will take part in the Saturday, July 22 event, which begins and ends in Eminence, but takes place almost entirely on the roads of Putnam County.

“We’re stoked to have @reggiemillertnt joining us next month,” race organizers said in an Instagram post Tuesday morning. “He was money from long range for the Pacers — will he employ the same tactic and go for a long range attack at the Dust Bowl?!”

The Dust Bowl post references a June 7 post from Miller and subsequent story published by the Indianapolis Star.

“So excited to be, ‘Going back to Indiana’!!” Miller wrote in his post. “I get a chance to race/ride/socialize my bike for 100 glorious miles at the @dustbowl100 presented by @zippspeed.”

After noting race is July 22 in Eminence (which locals know is only somewhat true), Miller went on to encourage fans to come out and support his fellow racers: “really looking forward to connecting with my Hoosier folks on two wheels, please come on out and support all the riders, either at the venue site or just line the race route and cheer us on.”

The California native goes on to call himself an “adopted Hoosier” and “gravel grinder.”

Noted for his three-point shooting in pressure situations, Miller became known as the “Knick Killer” for his playoff performances against New York’s NBA team in the mid-1990s. Currently an NBA commentator for TNT and college basketball analyst for CBS, he is the Pacers’ all-time leader in points, assists, steals, minutes and games played and several other categories.

While the 100-mile length is the marquee race of the Dust Bowl 100, it also features 80-mile and 44-mile races. While registration is long since full for the third-annual event, there are still opportunities to get involved as a volunteer or fan. Learn more at www.dustbowl100.com/.