He may not yet be old enough to drive a regular-sized vehicle yet, but a South Surrey teen who won a NASCAR Youth Series title just before Christmas last year has even more plans to tear up the track.
Chase Miller, a Grade 9 Grandview Heights student, won the quarter midget event at the Silver State Winter Nationals in Las Vegas, beating nearly 350 other competitors, mostly from the United States.
Proud dad Steve Miller noted it's a pretty big deal to win at the event, "and even a bigger deal for a Canadian kid to do it."
"Winning that hardware in Vegas big deal for him and for Canada, really... people start to look and you and take you more seriously when you win one of those events, and we香蕉视频直播檙e looking forward to carrying that momentum into the New Year," Steve said.
Chase was proud to win the title, too.
"There香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of high-budget USA teams with hired pit crew and million-dollar rigs, so it was surreal," Chase said.
He and his father have a busy 2025 planned, with races taking them back to Las Vegas in March, as well as multiple races in Southern California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington State and local track in Aldergrove, where Chase trains. He also won two championships on his home track.
Chase, 14, first started quarter midget racing 香蕉视频直播� a quarter midget is a scaled-down version of an actual midget racer, approximately 1/4 scale 香蕉视频直播� when he was only six years old. Youth can start competing as young as five in the sport.
"When I was six, my great-uncle Mike invited me to a ride day at LQMA... what it is, is, it gives aspiring drivers the opportunity to take the track and see whether or not you like the sport," Chase recalled. "And ... at the end of the day, I had a car."
The cars reach a top speed of about 60-65 kilometres per hour, he said, and noted he enjoys the off-track aspects, such as setting up the cars, as well as competing on the racetrack.
"Just being prepared for anything... during the race, my heads always spinning, always thinking, what香蕉视频直播檚 in front of me, what香蕉视频直播檚 behind me, what香蕉视频直播檚 my next move," he said."In terms of racing, I like passing, and the thrill of the speed."
Racing in two governing bodies, the as well as Quarter Midgets of America, his season kicks off March 14-16 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to compete in an event that runs just before the NASCAR main event at the same speedway.
Quarter midget racing is much more popular in the States, both Chase and Steve said.
"(Drivers) come from all over the states 香蕉视频直播� there香蕉视频直播檚 a few tracks in every state... most of the cars are from U.S., but there's usually a few Canadians," Chase said.
He plans to go as far as he's able with racing.
"They age out of quarter midget at 16, so he香蕉视频直播檚 got two more years left of quarter midget and then we香蕉视频直播檒l see where that takes him from there," Steve said."It香蕉视频直播檚 creating memories and he香蕉视频直播檚 doing what he loves, and I love it too. It香蕉视频直播檚 fun and we get to travel together."
Chase remains focused on his goal for 2025.
"The end goal is hopefully, to bring home a NASCAR youth series championship."
