YORKTOWN— Yorktown’s Ayden Millette, Langley Speedway’s 2024 racing champion, is busy gearing up for the 2025 racing season.
Millette started going to the racetrack with his dad as a toddler. At the age of five, he recalls telling his dad he wanted to race. After buying a second-hand go-kart, Millette was addicted.
“I started racing on Sundays with the Kart Club and I won a bunch of championships there and I just kept moving up. Ever since then, I’ve been racing every chance I get,” Millette said.
Working his way up through the ranks, Millette knew that racing was going to be a serious part of his life.
“One of my buddies moved up to another class before me and his dad wanted me to try to drive alongside him. I knew from that moment that I started racing in that new class that it was something I wanted to do and see how far I can go,” Millette said.
The 16-year-old began the 2024 season with high hopes. After finishing third the year before, Millette knew he was capable of having a championship season. At the first race, Millette’s car had a problem and he didn’t finish. Millette then finished third twice before earning his first win of the season.
“After that first win, nobody else could really keep up with us. We won eight races total, six points races. After that first win, we just keep winning from there and it was a really great season from that point on,” Millette said.
Going into the evening of the championship race, Millette knew that mathematically, the championship was his if he could go out and have a clean race.
“My only goal was to finish the race. I was excited for the race, but I knew I was going to get it because of the way the points stacked up. Even then, it still didn’t feel real,” Millette said.
Millette and one of his best friends went for a 1-2 photo finish to end the race, and Millette ultimately took home the 2024 racing title.
Millette is excited to get back to the track as he looks ahead on the 2025 season.
“Of course I want to win every race, but I really just want to keep up with the front of the pack and prove that I’m good enough to win,” Millette said.
Millette’s long-term goal is to eventually find himself in NASCAR.
Racing returns to Langley Speedway during the first week of April. The full schedule for the season and ticket information can be found by visiting langley-speedway.com.
Millette is currently looking for sponsors to join his racing team. Interested groups can reach Millette on his racing Facebook page.