2023 Szn Driver Spotlight Profiles – Week 4

(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – May 26, 2023)

With the 2023 racing season getting underway this weekend, we have three more driver spotlight profiles to unveil!

As the season rolls on, we hope to post at least one or two profiles on a weekly or biweekly schedule.

As for what the profiles are, you will find out information such as who a driver is, where they’re from, what division they’re in plus their car number, what their racing story is, and much more.

Welcome to week four.

HONDA OUTLAW

Our fourth Honda outlaw driver is Ricky Millar, driver of the #17 car.

From Alberton, Ricky was brought into the action by his father and uncle both being racers. He started racing in 2015 at the age of 15, participating in the mini stock division. He got multiple top-five finishes, nearly a dozen runner-up finishes, finished fifth in the standings, and claimed the Rookie of the Year award.

In 2016, Ricky sold his car and built a new one. He scored several wins and finished fifth in points again. 2017 was a slump, with multiple mishaps and a 10th-place points finish, but he did win the Super Series and claim the Most Dedicated Driver award.

In 2018, he bought a new Dodge Neon and went on FIRE, scoring 10+ wins, half a dozen feature wins, many podiums, and the championship. He claimed the Hard Charger and Most Improved Driver awards.

Millar came close to back-to-back titles in 2019 until the transmission let go during a practice session. He wound up third in points, claiming the Fan Favourite award. He also won the Enduro 100 race.

Millar took 2020 and 2021 off, returning in 2022, but in a different division. He gave Honda outlaws a shot, winning three races. He was en route to a championship until a crash led him to a fifth-place points finish.

Millar is back in the Honda outlaw division this year, driving the #17 car. His sponsors include Dunbar Family Farms, MillarBoyzRacin, Island Concepts Ltd, Alberton Irving, Kildare Fisheries, Preston Murphy Trucking & Paving, W&S Riverview Dairy, You Move Health & Wellness, Wayne’s Honda Parts & Repair, Leclairs Tire & Automotive, Kris Fournier Re/Max, and Captains Haven.

Look out for Ricky Millar’s #17 car to be a contender for both wins and the championship this summer!

MINI STOCK #1

Our fifth mini stock driver is Jeff Bridges, driver of the #95 car.

From Kensington, Jeff grew up watching races at OBS. Veteran Randy Millar was in his eyesight the most, and he dreamed of owning a car one day.

He first got involved in racing by participating in an endurance race in 2016. He may have found the wall, but he immediately got hooked on the action.

He bought a car for the 2017 season but wound up finding the wall many more times, finishing the year top 10 in points with a wrecked car. He took 2018 off, returning in 2019 with a newly-built car.

It was a successful return as he scored his first-career win. Jeff recalls his grandmother calling him to say how proud she was and she couldn’t wait to see the video. Tragically, she passed away in 2020.

The emotions didn’t stop hitting Jeff as his grandfather was diagnosed with dementia in 2021. All year, Jeff’s grandfather said to him, “You better win that big trophy. You deserve it. You better get it.” At the season-ending races, Jeff won the mini stock championship. Two days later, his grandfather died.

“I was so excited to tell him about it, but I never got to. It was an emotional roller coaster.”

Jeff loves showing off his hobby and has always visited car shows with his car. Eventually, he got the idea of raising money for charities and research. The inspiration arose from his brother’s life being saved by the IWK multiple times.

“We started in a mall parking lot with friends and their race cars. We raised $575 in just two weekends. In 2022, we decided to try and reach $1000. We raised $1080 for prostate cancer, kidney cancer, dementia awareness, and Make A Wish ($270 each).”

Jeff and his friends hope to reach $2000 this year. Their first weekend was successful as Restcon Construction sent in a big donation and many fans showed their support, raising $225.

“The way I look at it, if I can raise money with the hobby I love for organizations that helped my family over the years, why not? Thanks to all fans and racing friends for helping every year. It’s greatly appreciated.”

Not only is Jeff continuing to raise money, but he also has a new surprise for the 2023 season, as he will be running a #95 Lightning McQueen-themed car.

“I can’t wait to see all the kids smiling this year and hope to make them racers someday.”

There’s no doubt Jeff Bridges will be a fan-favourite (especially with kids) and a championship-favourite every weekend this summer! Look out for his sweet-looking #95 red-and-yellow car.

His sponsors: Burlington Go-Karts, Alvin Bridges, Dan’s Muffler, Lyman Paynter, Wicked Powder Coating, Central Siding and Exteriors, Millar Boyz Racing, The Runway Drive-In Theatre, East Cost Vinyl Supplies, Palmers Mobile Service & A/C Repair, Bridges Custom Designs.

MINI STOCK #2

Our sixth mini stock driver is Ricky Bedell, driver of the #2 car.

From the Montague area, the 32-year-old sophomore racer got into racing from his father, who raced in the hobby stock division in the #2 car.

He followed in his footsteps beginning last year, competing every weekend, finishing seventh in the standings, and scoring a best finish of third.

Bedell is back for a second season. He’ll be transitioning from a plain blue paint to a blue and white scheme, very similar to his father’s hobby stock scheme.

Look out for Ricky Bedell’s #2 car to be a contender every weekend this summer!

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If you’re a driver who would be interested in a profile or you’re related to a driver and you have a bucketload of information, send Reegan MacAulay a message on Facebook.