Wyatt Miller To Make Dirt And Pavement Late Model Debuts
Wyatt Miller To Make Dirt And Pavement Late Model Debuts
Wyatt Miller, the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr., will make his pavement and dirt Late Model debuts over the next few weeks.
At just 13 years of age, Wyatt Earnhardt Miller, the grandson of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt Sr., has already experienced plenty in motorsports. He’s won a Golden Driller at the Tulsa Shootout and he’s found success racing off-road trucks, but in 2025 he’s going to add new experiences to his already deep resume.
Miller will be making his asphalt Late Model debut at Hickory Motor Speedway this Saturday night (March 8) in a Limited Late Model, and then next month he’ll make his dirt Late Model debut at Natural Bridge Speedway in a 604 Crate Late Model.
The 2024 Tulsa Shootout Restricted champion said that his goal for his pavement Late Model debut is a top-five finish, even though he knows it’s going to be quite a challenge due to his limited experience on pavement so far.
“I’ve only ran Legend Cars on asphalt,” Miller told FloRacing. “It’s harder than a dirt car just because I’m not used to it yet. But it’ll be fun, hopefully. I want to get at least a top-five finish.”
Miller’s pavement Late Model debut coming at Hickory makes plenty of sense, too, as the Earnhardt and Miller family history runs deep at the track known as the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.” Miller’s great-grandfather Ralph Earnhardt won five track championships at Hickory. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won multiple races at Hickory in NASCAR’s Late Model Sportsman division. His mother, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and his uncle, Dale Earnhardt Jr, ran Late Model Stock Cars at Hickory for a short time. And his father, LW Miller, raced Modifieds at Hickory.
After he makes his pavement debut, Miller will shift his focus back to the dirt ahead of his Dirt Late Model debut near the end of April at Natural Bridge Speedway in Virginia.
Miller posted on his social media channels that he tested a Dirt Late Model for the first time last week at Ultimate Motorsports Park in Elkin, North Carolina.
“It was a blast,” Miller said. “Honestly, that and the micro and the off-road truck are probably tied for my favorite. The speed just made it a lot of fun.”
Tried something new today 👀
— Wyattwmiller73 (@wyattwmiller73) February 26, 2025
Thanks, @LonghornChassis for letting me make a few laps in a dirt late model! pic.twitter.com/FqrhfD2GrZ
Miller explained to FloRacing that the test session and now the planned race on April 26 with Whittier Motorsports came together thanks to a phone call from Steve Arpin, co-owner of Longhorn Chassis, to Miller’s father, L.W. Miller.
“Steve Arpin called my dad and then we went and sat in it first,” Miller said. “Then we went testing at Ultimate Motorsports Park in Elkin.”
The young driver said the differences in characteristics between the Late Model and what he’s been used to were drastic.
“It’s definitely a lot different,” said Miller. “The left rear gets up and then you’re kind of sitting nose down, and you’ve got to set the car way harder than a micro. It was definitely slower to react.”
Race fans can watch Miller take his next steps in his racing career live on FloRacing this weekend from Hickory Motor Speedway. Fans can subscribe to FloRacing by clicking here.