Monroe, NC (9/8/2017) -
Mills3 Racing had the experience of a lifetime
as the three generations of the Mills family
competed at Crandon International Off-Road
Raceway in Wisconsin. Father and son Chris
and Payton Mills competed in the Pro Modified
and Pro Stock classes in round 11 of the TORC
Series and in the special Crandon World Cup,
while grandpa Robert watched from the stands.
|
| Over
60,000 Fans went through the gates at
Crandon this year, which set a new attendance
record |
The event has long held a starring role in
the off-road racing calendar and this year’s
events set records. With an unprecedented
60,000 fans in the stands for the races, as
well as other special events, including a
Friday parade through Downtown Crandon, the
event was in a word: Awesome.
“This was honestly one of the best experiences
I’ve had in my racing career,” said Payton
Mills. “There were tons of fans there and
it was fun interacting with the crowd. There
was stiff competition across all of the classes.
We really enjoyed the weekend. With 60,000
fans sitting in the stands, we just tried
to give them a show.”
|
|
Payton
Mills leading Chris Mills down the highway
toward downtown Crandon for the Friday
Parade |
Chris Mills was also amazed by the event.
The large crowd helped pump him during the
race weekend. “This event in unexplainable,”
said Chris Mills. “This is insane the amount
of people, the amount of racers, and the quality
of racers. It was so fun to be a part of it.”
The parade showcased trucks and UTVs parked
along the main drag through town as well as
the side streets. Fans were able to get an
up close look at the machines and hang out
with the drivers. “The parade was awesome,”
said Payton Mills. “It was great to see all
of the people and it was nice to get all of
the racers down there. This really gave the
fans a unique chance to interact with the
drivers and see the cars up close.”
|
|
Chris
Mills heading down Main St in Crandon
for the Parade |
The highlight for the weekend was Sunday’s
special non-points Crandon World Cup race.
Payton Mills competed in the Pro Stock class
and finished 14th. He was happy to see everyone
compete in the event.
“People travel such a long way to these races
and if you miss your setup and didn’t have
a good day in qualifying, you end up missing
the race,” said Payton Mills. “So it was great
for them to allow everyone a chance to race.
It gave the Sportsman guys a chance to see
if they wanted to move up to run with the
pros. It was a little crowded, but that’s
really part of racing. You have to learn to
get around people. There were definitely some
good battles out there. That’s what we enjoy:
battling back and forth with other racers.”
Chris Mills finished eighth in Saturday’s
Pro Modified race. Though the track was rough
and muddy, he made it through and showed just
how much he’s learned in his first TORC season.
|
| Addict
Racing's Chris Mills finished a solid
8th Place on Saturday in the mud, which
was his second best finish of the TORC
season. |
“The rain changed the track a lot,” said
Chris Mills. “We had practice in the dry on
Thursday and then the rain made it into a
one-groove track. It was tough to pass, but
we finished eighth and in this crowd, that’s
a great finish.”
Track conditions made setup a crucial step
to being competitive. The team tested their
FTI Suspension prior to the event and their
Fuel Wheels and Tires were perfect for the
wet racing surface.
“We spent a day testing the FTI suspension
before we came up here and we were dialed
in,” said Chris Mills. “The Fuel Tires were
working great and the Yamaha is just a great
car. The cars are right and we’re ready to
move into the next level.”
Racing is more than just a hobby for the
Mills family. It’s a family tradition and
three generations of Mills enjoyed the quality
time they spent together this season.
“It’s a big deal to get everyone together
and enjoy the weekend together,” said Payton
Mills. “We’ve become a lot closer and got
to enjoy some good family time during the
races. Mills3 will come on strong next year.
We’ll have a few more people behind us. We’ll
see what happens.”
Like any competitive team, Mills3 has a long
list of sponsors that keeps them competitive
at every race. “Jim with Addict Racing Engines
has been our crew chief, a great spotter and
he’s just been a huge help,” said Payton Mills.
“Owen Motorsports has been super supportive
through the whole thing. Liqui Moly has really
helped out, getting us the right lubricants
to ensure our cars run right. Fuel Off Road
has always hooked us up with wheels and tires
and made sure we’re set for each race. Greaves
Motorsports has helped us out with anything
we needed. Powersports1 and Yamaha have been
huge to stand behind us. They always have
the parts we need to make sure we can make
the next race. Studio 10 Wraps made our cars
look good. Dan from All Terrain Communications
has been a huge help. He’s been at all of
the races, making sure our communications
are ready to go. Cal at FTI Suspension made
sure our cars were dialed in for this weekend,
and we can always count on Harlen and Faith
Foley to capture the best action photos.”
|
|
Mills
3 Racing is a all about family with
Chris, Robert, and Payton Mills |
Mills3 Racing is already planning for next
season. Look for the team to continue to grow
as it competes with the best of the best in
short course off road racing.
Special Thanks
to Mills3 Racing Sponsors:
Addict Racing Engines, Owen Motorsports, Fuel
Off Road, Liqui Moly, Powersports1, ATVRiders.com,
Studio 10 Graphics, All Terrain Communication,
Rugged Radios, DW Performance, Risq Threads,
K1 Racegear, Greaves Motorsports, FTI Suspension,
CPS Trucking, Yamaha, RevUp Graphics, WebCams,
Pearson Archery
