LISLE, NY – Factory stocks sit in a unique place in New York short track racing. The Pop’s Automotive Factory Stocks at Thunder Mountain are no different. Take an old street stock chassis, drop a Chevy 350 in it, bolt on some Cooper Cobra’s, and go racing. At Thunder Mountain in 2022, no name has been more synonymous with the class than the Mills family. Bob Mills has a race win this year, and Buck Mills Sr. and Luke Mills made starts in the class last year, with Mills Sr. grabbing a race win. Buck Mills Jr. is the latest in a line of success, leading the points standings on the back of multiple feature wins. This week on Climbing the Mountain, we get to know Buck Mills Jr.

With the Mills family racing throughout Mills Jr.’s childhood, it was only a matter of time before he started racing. Once he was of age, the family got to work building a car.

“We started building a car for me to race when I turned eighteen”, said Mills Jr. “My dad helped me build it. Back in the day, this class was called the Junkyard Dogs. You kicked the windows out of the car, put a four point cage in, and went to the racetrack. The rules started to open up a little bit more over time, and that class became the factory stocks we know today.”

Racers are known for being creatures of habit and routine. For Mills Jr., one of those routines means being ready early on Saturday morning.

“I have to be the first car through the gate”, said Mills Jr. “If we get through the gate first and get unloaded and ready to go with no issues, it’s going to be a good night.”

On Saturday, June 25th, being first through the gate worked out for Mills Jr. After a race long battle with uncle Bob Mills and Jason Rhodes, Mills Jr. prevailed to take a decisive victory that extended his current points lead.

However, many racers know that routines don’t start and stop at the race track. Mills Jr. is knows that getting in the front gate first alone doesn’t guarantee victory.

“When we get back from the track there’s a checklist we go through”, said Mills Jr. “We wash the car first and then go through the car with that checklist. Once that is done, we might decide to try a few things. Some weeks we might try to make a spring change or do something like that to try and see if we can make the car better.”

Racing for the Mills family revolves around the Thunder Mountain Speedway. Not only is the track local for the family, it’s been home since the beginning. The family may be close knit off the speedway, but that doesn’t change anything on the track.

“This track is where it all started”, said Mills Jr. “We’re really happy to have our class here so we can continue to run here. It gets intense racing with my uncle and my cousins. Last year when my dad was driving my other car, it was very competitive. It’s all about who has the best stories to tell at the dinner table during the holidays.”

Mills Jr. and the Pop’s Automotive Factory Stocks return to action after a week off this Saturday, July 9th. Come out and join us this Saturday night for our kids bike races and a full card of racing action starring a double dose of modified action with the Dirt Track Digest TV Modifieds and the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds. The DIRTcar Sportsman, B-Walt’s Car Care 600cc Modifieds, Wheeler’s Excavating Street Stocks, Pop’s Automotive Factory Stocks, and the Open vs Crate Sportsman will complete the card of racing.