McMiken, of Newton Stewart, was eight seconds ahead of three-times winner Ian Paterson.
The success came as Mark McCulloch, also from Newton Stewart, secured the 1.6 class title in the Brick and Steel 205 Ecosse Challenge on Sunday's Keith Knox Stages rally at Otterburn, to add to his Scottish Junior Championship crown.
In the Solway Coast Rally, Paterson's Impreza was co-driven by novice co-driver Michael Burns as a prize offered in the Solway Car Club raffle, which raised over £5000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Evo 9 crew of McMiken and co-driver Christine Sanderson set the bar on the first stage of the 32-mile gravel event near Dalry, beating Paterson by 11 seconds, with former winners Richard and Nancy Dickson a further six seconds back on their four-wheel-drive debut in a Subaru Impreza.
Over the next three stages, Paterson clawed back time from McMiken, and the two entered the final seven-mile stage tied dead level.
McMiken "pulled out all the stops" to set the fastest time and win the event, with Paterson/Burns a worthy second, and 2006 winners Stevie Hogg/Phil Shortt (Subaru N12) in the final podium position.
Thrilled Craig said: "This was a hard-fought battle with Ian Paterson, who managed to pull back my 10-second lead on the penultimate stage. So it was all down to the last stage. I was very determined after leading the event throughout to win and did so by eight seconds.
"This was a well-run rally and credit must go to the organisers and marshals in terrible weather conditions."
Richard and Nancy Dickson finished fourth, with Jim Sharp/Bruce Harper rounding off the top five. Billy McLelland/Helen Brown were slowed by a puncture to finish sixth.
The battle for two-wheel-drive honours was convincingly won by the Escort MkII of Alister Watson/Billy Dickson in seventh overall, after the early demise of Ivor Clark due to damage sustained to his Hillman Avenger.
The smaller engine classes were won by the 1600 Talbot Sunbeam of Alex Curran, and the 1400 Nova of Fraser Wilson.
CLASS WINNERS
Class 1: Fraser Wilson / Steven Broll Vauxhall Nova; Class 2 Alex Curran/Stephen Marshall Talbot Sunbeam; Class 3 Alister Watson/Billy Dickson Ford Escort MkII ; Class 4: Steven Hogg/Phil Shortt Subaru Impreza N12.
l Mark's McCulloch's dad John was navigating for Dumfries driver David Hardie on the concurrent Cheviot Stages Rally at Otterburn, finishing fifth overall in a Subaru Impreza.