After over two years out of the driver’s seat of a Production Sedan, Jacob Mills returned in the best possible fashion recently at Moama’s Heartland Raceway by winning the inaugural Production Sedan Heartland Hustle event.
Having not sat in a Production Sedan since finishing second in the National Title of 2017 at his home track of Wahgunyah Speedway, Mills showed little effect from the lack of track time to be right on the pace from the outset and went on to score a dominant victory at the conclusion of the two-night event.
Following two from three heat-race wins on the opening night and a sixth-place finish in the preliminary feature race after being sent ROF earlier in the race and then running second in the fourth and final heat race on the second night, Mills started the feature race from position four after finishing fourth in the pole shootout. From the drop of the green flag in the feature race, he moved to the front of the field within the opening lap following a daring outside pass. Once in lead, Mills controlled the pace and went on to score an impressive win.
The past three years have been quite difficult for Mills, following the passing of his older brother Brenton Mills in late 2016 and dealing with all those emotions which has seen his speedway racing take a back seat.
Despite cameo appearances for the Patriot Motorsport team in the Street Stocks, which included a runner-up finish in last season’s NSW Street Stock Title, Mills has been working hard on improving his personal life and has decided that the time was right to get back behind the wheel of his NSW # 12 Dunn’s Twin City Cranes supported VS Holden Commodore Production Sedan.
“The past couple of years haven’t been easy with my personal life and I’m not afraid to admit that, but I feel that speedway is going to play a significant role in getting better and I’m looking to continue the Mills family legacy in speedway,” admitted the 25-year-old racer.
“I loved getting back behind the wheel of my VS Holden Commodore, as I have worked hard to get it back on the track and also been helped along by my sponsors, and to be able to come out first time out and pick up the win was the best possible way to return.”
When it comes to Mills’s future, he is looking very forward to it.
“The goal heading into my return was to just get through both nights in one piece, and to come out and win certainly exceeded expectations amongst such tough competition and supporting the National Super Sedan Title, so I’m excited about what lies ahead,” he said.
“I’m running this whole deal by myself and I have some great help from some valued sponsors, and I can’t wait to get back out there and do the best I can. One of the biggest changes with me as a racer has been my driving style and although I’m still aggressive out there, but I’m taking a calmer approach.”
The next event for Mills will be this Saturday night’s Graham Bourke Memorial at Leeton’s Brobenah Raceway, followed by the NSW Title at Moruya’s Surfair Speedway on the Saturday night of May 18.
Mills would like to thank his 2018-19 season sponsors: Dunn’s Twin City Cranes, Jindera Panel Shop, Stewart’s Contract Solutions, B&J Nagel Excavations and Sand & Gravel, Mills Racing Engines, Kenco Racing Products, and Pro1 Race Parts. Special thanks: Daniel Creek and family, along with all Mills’s family and friends.
