“Hickory Motor Speedway is the birthplace of NASCAR stars.”

Hickory Motor Speedway has long been the breeding ground for NASCAR’s biggest stars, and no name is more deeply tied to its legacy than the Earnhardts. Built in 1951, the North Carolina short track became the ultimate proving ground for legends like Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, and, most notably, Ralph Earnhardt. A five-time track champion, Ralph set the stage for the Earnhardt dynasty, instilling a relentless racing spirit that would define generations.

Now, history appears to be repeating itself. With a 13-year-old Earnhardt prodigy already making waves, the foundation Ralph laid decades ago continues to shape NASCAR’s future. Yes, this is about his great-grandson, Kelley Earnhardt, and L.W. Miller’s son.

Earnhardt Legacy rising at Hickory

Wyatt “The Thriller” Miller, as he’s known, is already making waves. The legacy of Dale Earnhardt Sr. has quickly become a rising star in the short-track scene. And, his relentless, no-nonsense driving style is already turning heads and drawing comparisons to his legendary lineage. In his first race at Hickory Motor Speedway, Miller came close with a runner-up finish. But in race two, he wasn’t leaving anything on the table.

With engines screaming, Miller battled fiercely in Turns 2 and 4, locked in a bumper-to-bumper fight with Zach Buenger. Refusing to back down, he muscled his way to the front, seizing his first victory in true Earnhardt fashion. A statement Earnhardt win, a legacy reborn. “It was awesome,” Dale Jr. said on his podcast. “He drove a good line, you can see the potential there.”

Miller himself sounded confident, and the win is definitely a confidence booster for him. “We had a really good car, I was catching Zach, and then he blew up. I think Aiden tried to rattle my cage, but it didn’t work,” he said in the victory lane.

And, Dale Jr also stated Hickory’s importance in the Earnhardt family history. It was here that Ralph Earnhardt, Wyatt’s great-grandfather, built his reputation as one of the greatest short-track racers ever. In the 1950s, Ralph Earnhardt won five track championships there. The 1959 season was particularly special as he won 22 out of the 24 races. Ralph dominated so thoroughly that officials placed a bounty on him to encourage competition.

“They tried to put a bounty on him, and he kept winning,” Dale Jr. recalled. “They just said, ‘Don’t come back.’” His relentless success forced track promoters to ban him temporarily, fearing it would hurt attendance. As Junior recalled his grandfather’s words, he said Ralph told him, “They won’t let me run there anymore. They said I monopolized once, and I’d monopolize it again.” Now, over 70 years later, another Earnhardt is winning at Hickory, carrying on the family legacy. But Junior went back in various capacities, including serving as the Grand Marshal for the inaugural Jack Ingram Memorial in 2022.

During this event, he even expressed his enthusiasm about racing there again, stating, “I would love to, I really would… I think before it’s all said and done I’m probably going to get in a Late Model car competitively at some point.” While we don’t know if we’ll see that but Wyatt Miller’s early success hints at a bright future. With guidance from Dale Jr., Kelley, and the JR Motorsports team, Miller is in the perfect environment to develop his skills.

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What’s next for Wyatt Miller?

Miller’s early success at Hickory Motor Speedway is definitely just a beginning. Even Dale Jr. has hinted that his journey will continue in late model stock cars, a critical stepping stone for aspiring NASCAR drivers. If we look at any past stars, including Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, they have all honed their skills in these competitive short-track series.

Keeping in view that Junior Motorsports is already providing Miller with an elite support system, Junior thinks, “He’s in a great spot.”  So with guidance from seasoned professionals like Bryan Shaffer, crew chief and team manager, Connor Hall, and Caden Kvapil, Miller is gaining the experience needed to advance through the ranks.

Even his mother, Kelley Earnhardt, made some big cheers after the race, when she posted a story of Wyatt taking that chequered flag. She wrote, “Animated and proud momma.”

So while the kid has big Earnhardt responsibility on his shoulders, the next logical step for Miller could be the CARS Tour. And, competing against top-tier talent in the series would test his racecraft and prepare him for bigger stages. If Miller continues on this trajectory, ARCA Menards Series opportunities could be on the horizon. Many NASCAR drivers, including Chase Elliott and William Byron, used ARCA as a bridge between late models and national-level stock car racing. With Earnhardt Jr.’s mentorship and Wyatt’s raw talent, a move up the ladder seems inevitable.