RPW Column: After A Solid 2019, AJ Miller’s Looking To Get Even Stronger This Coming Season

RPW Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – When you’re a race car driver, you always want to be at the top of the mountain. However, you don’t want to be at the bottom of it the very next week. You want consistency, and that’s what AJ Miller had in 2019.

Looking back last year, the youngster from Fultonville, NY collected one victory in the Sportsman division, June 27th at the Fulton Speedway, and finished 14th in points. He also collected six top 5’s and eight top 10’s on the high banks along the way.

“2019 went better than I thought it would for us,” Miller said. “After the way 2018 went, last year was a rough season, but it was decent for us. It was just very humbling over all with the way the season progressed.”

While concentrating on the Sportsman car, Miller also made the jump to the 358-Modified division for a handful of races throughout the season.

“It was awesome to feel the power of the 358,” he said. “It was very different than I was use to. I picked up some habits in the crate class that I realized while driving the Modified. Getting the chance to run one of those things and race with the best of the best anytime I want is cool. The difference of the cars is the big thing.”

Also in 2019, Miller and his team added veteran driver Dale Planck to their stable to run a 358-Mod weekly at Fulton Speedway. Adding Planck really helped Miller with his development.

“Having Dale around was awesome,” he said. “He is the guy who can sit there and watch you and tell you what you’re doing wrong. However, he can also tell you how to fix it. A lot of people can see the problem but can’t offer a solution. Dale can give you setup help, driving style help, can set the car up for you and also wheel one of these things very well. He is a jack of all trades.”

Miller was also impressed with the way Planck things about the parts and pieces of these cars.

“Dale’s an innovator,” he said. “He isn’t one to just buy something at the speed shop and use it. He’s shown me the ways racing used to be when he started. It’s taught me a lot and got me thinking of what I can do with the parts as well as what I can do myself. It made me ponder about how i can innovate myself and not just use cookie cutter parts.”

With only one trip to victory lane last year at Fulton for AJ, it’s status quo for 2020. However he hopes for more seat time in the 358-Modified.

“We are going to stick with the crate stuff for 2020,” he said. “It seems like we will try to get our six or so races in with the 358 before the regular season is over and hopefully run some end-of-the-year non-points events.”

What type of events does Miller have on his radar?

“I want to run all the big shows to close out 2020,” he said. “Maybe not Super DIRT Week, but a lot of them big races to get experience. The plan is to eventually move up to the 358’s weekly, so hopefully we can do that sometime soon.”

A consistent year for AJ Miller proves he can get it done behind the wheel of a Dirt Modified, and with a mentor like legendary driver Dale Planck in his corner, and the support of his friends and family, 2020 looks like it may be more of the same for this likeable young driver.