JACKSONVILLE, NC – Veteran racer Travis Miller once made a promise to 14-year-old Cody Fink – a promise that he could take laps on one of Miller’s racecars once he was old enough and could reach the gas pedal.
On Tuesday evening, Miller made good on that promise.
Fink had first met Miller at Carteret County Speedway a few years ago when, after winning a race, Miller handed him a trophy – which Fink carried with him to future races. From there, the two developed a friendship.
“Travis and I met at the speedway and then we just grew closer and closer,” Fink said. “We started exchanging numbers. About a year ago, we started talking about doing this and now we’re making it come to fruition.”
Fink taking laps around the track alongside his hero was a dream come true for both.
“It’s not just his dream, my dream too,” Miller said. “This is cool to be able to share in something we’re so passionate about. I met Cody at a racetrack probably four years ago. He came as a fan and he and his family fell in love with the racing and have been showing up each time.”
Miller told Fink he would allow the teenager to take laps in one of his cars once he was big enough. During pre-race meet-and-greets, Fink would sit in Miller’s car and see if he could reach the gas pedal. Fink recently turned 14 and told Miller he believed he could and Miller kept his word.
“He called me, just turned 14, and said, ‘pretty sure I could reach the pedals,’” Miller recalled. “He’s grown like a weed. We kept talking this whole summer that we were going to make something happen. Luckily we came here to Goodyear All American Speedway and fulfilled what we talked about doing. It’s pretty awesome.”
Prior to Tuesday, Fink had never driven anything but golf carts.
Miller sat in the car with Fink to show him how to drive the car, then got in his own car and the two raced around the track, passing each other and running with each other.
“It was really fun,” Fink stated. “He’s definitely teaching me how to do this.”
Fink said he would possibly like to race one day, but for now, this experience will do.
“He did a great job,” Miller remarked. “He’s never driven anything other than golf carts, so he did a great job. I know his mom was a little nervous, but I’d turn him loose with any of my vehicles right now.”
Miller is one of the most successful drivers in four-cylinder racing in the area, winning several races over the years at nearby tracks. Miller has won multiple races at Carteret County in 2021 and won races earlier this year in Jacksonville prior to the Goodyear All American Speedway era.
Miller will likely compete in next Saturday’s racing program in a U-CAR. The August 28th race will also feature Late Models, Super Trucks, Chargers, Legends and the popular Street Legal Spectator Races.
Goodyear All American Speedway is Jacksonville’s Action Attraction featuring racing and other events. For more information about Goodyear All American Speedway, check out the speedway’s website, like/follow “Goodyear All American Speedway” on Facebook, or follow the track on Instagram.
