Local Teen Drag Racer Has Need for Speed

Her name is Shelby Miller, and her first name was not given to her by chance. Her father named her after legendary automotive icon Carroll Shelby, the man behind the AC Cobra and the Shelby Mustangs that dominated the racing circuit in the 1960's. With her name linked to the man that defined speed for the muscle-car generation, it's no surprise that young Shelby Miller wants to go fast.

At 17 years old, she will be heading into her senior year at Leyton High School in the fall.

When asked if their was a history of racing in her family, she said, "Not in my immediate family, but my cousins Robbie and Chuckie Bentley race, and I attended a couple of their races and wanted to get involved. My family has a tradition of going up to the Mustang Rally in Sturgis, and I loved watching the drag racing there, so I wanted to give it a shot."

She drives a blue 2006 Mustang named "Sally" that she purchased from an online auction which she plans on modifying with a dual exhaust and other performance upgrades. For now, it has a 4.0 liter V6 engine, but after she gets the car to go as fast as it can with the six cylinder engine, she plans on dropping an eight cylinder engine under the hood.

"My dad works with cars, so I've been around them all of my life, so most of the modifications I've made I've done myself, with some help from my dad," she said.

She races in Julesburg, CO at the Julesburg Municipal Airport, home to the oldest track in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association), where she competes in the quarter mile races. Her fastest time so far has been 14.8 seconds, which is quite fast for a six-cylinder vehicle of that class.

She's also involved locally with Sidney's Auto Club, but for the most part, sticks with the track at Julesburg.

There are many classes and brackets in the racing circuit for Shelby to advance into as she progresses in the racing world.

"Everyone there (at Julesburg) is like a family. They care about everyone, have drivers meetings and are very involved with the racers," she said.

There are races every weekend, weather permitting. She is one of the few female racers in her bracket, but doesn't feel that she's treated any differently than any other racer. All you need is the car, the ability to drive, and to sign an insurance waiver to be able to compete.

The races are well-attended and many of her friends go to Julesburg to watch the races.

"In time trials, you're allowed to have people in the car with you as long as they have a helmet to wear. I always try to convince a friend to get in the car with me, because I have an extra helmet," she said with a laugh.

She plans on one day having her own Shelby Mustang GT 500, and wants to be an engineer. She plans on attending the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD.

"I want to be an engineer, and I think my mechanical background will help me out. But I never plan on stopping racing-I love it too much to give it up."

With her background, knowledge, and passion for cars, she's definitely on the fast track to success.