Nate Mills grew up watching racing, inspired by his heroes in the early 2000’s like a lot of us.
He grew up watching Jeff Gordon dominate as the new face in NASCAR, putting together three of the most dominant seasons in the sports’ history in the late 90’s.
Fast forward 10 years, and Mills was making his racing debut in a dirt kart at English Creek just outside of Knoxville.
Mills is a native of Bondurant, Iowa and if you can name a track in the state or series to participate in within the state’s 99 countries, he’s done it.
After a stellar year in his first season with a RaceSaver at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway, Mills took to Knoxville for his first 360 class season at the track.
As it always has since he’s raced at the track, it donned the No. 24 after his heroes, Gordon and Terry McCarl.
“Pretty much,” Mills said. “Jeff Gordon and Terry McCarl. Terry had us coming to the races ever since I was six years old, too. He was the hometown favorite so it kind of just made sense.”
Over the past three years, he’s continued to improve his program into a regular showing in Knoxville’s 360 class series.
It hasn’t been the easiest grind, but Mills did his thing.
“It’s crazy at Knoxville,” Mills said. “There’s just such good competition. You can go anywhere else and do really well, but here – you just want to do good.”
This season, more than any, has been the most unpredictable.
360 drivers were tasked with a limited schedule and a plethora of cancelations on the way – not to mention a challenging format.
“We had a pretty tough year this year,” Mills said. “So far it’s just qualifying. It’s everything in this format. If we can qualify good, the rest takes care of itself. To each their own. If you qualify good, then you don’t have to worry about it. It’s a little hard to make it up, though, if you qualify bad. Those two laps really set up your whole night.”
By the end of the year, Mills was helping McCarl tune his race car – and while he didn’t have the best statistical finish to a season of his career, you can bet he looks as poised as ever.
