Dirt
T
hree different championships
– including a PDRA title in 2018 – and
a runner-up finish over a two-year pe-
riod showcased what Brooke Miller was
capable of in a Jr. Dragster.
But the now 15-year-old standout always had
her eye on what was next.
Next becomes now in 2020, as Miller will take
a massive step forward this year behind the wheel
of a nitrous-assisted Chevy Camaro. She’ll debut
in the 4.50 index class in the late summer as
part of the Carolina Xtreme Pro Mod Series at
Darlington Dragway, with the plan to make her
PDRA Top Sportsman debut in the fall. There’s
been plenty of buildup to get to this point, but
it’s been everything Miller could have imagined
thus far in her young career.
“I’m really looking forward to this chance,”
Miller says. “It’s going to be really exciting.”
Racing is nothing new to her family. Her father,
Russell, and mother, DeeDee, own Pee Dee Fleet
and Darlington Dragway, while Brooke’s brother,
Tylor, excelled as a youngster as well.
He’s currently competing in PDRA Pro Boost,
while Brooke’s grooming in the Pro Mod Camaro
has been years in the making.
The process started a couple of years ago with
baby steps to get her comfortable. It included
comprehensive time just doing burnouts, then
60-foot launches and then 330-foot passes be-
fore finally making a full run last year in testing.
By that time, she had already had 27 launches in
the Camaro before her first full pull, while closely
studying her brother’s progress and excelling in
the Jr. Dragster category, where she won track
championships at Darlington in 2017 and 2018,
as well as a PDRA title in 2018. The extensive
training has been helpful and Miller is ready
to see it pay off.
“It really helped me understand things a lot
more,” Miller says. “Watching Tylor, that helped
show me what I needed to do and made me not
as nervous. It’s all given me confidence. I know
my dad wouldn’t put me in a car if I weren’t 100
percent ready. I feel like I’m ready to start racing
and get some competitive runs in.”
Russell Miller is the proud father in all of this,
watching his son and daughter come up through
the ranks. It’s been a family affair the entire time
and being able to cut their teeth at the track they
own has made it even more special.
It’s all been done under a careful, watchful eye
and it’s created moments that will forever bring
a smile to his face.
“The feeling I get watching them excel, there’s no
replacement to how good that feels,” Russell Miller
says. “They always say the family that races to-
gether stays together, and that’s been tried and true
for us. Brooke has been there every step of the way.”
Brooke and Tylor’s talents and success have
made for a brother-sister relationship steeped
with camaraderie, but also a friendly, albeit com-
petitive, sibling rivalry.
As Brooke moves into the next part in her ca-
reer, expect that to continue. After all, she already
has an eye on another major goal.
“My goal is to race my brother and beat him,”
Miller says.
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I DI l l DI u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 155