A year ago, Christian Miles was competing in the X30 Junior division at the United States Pro Kart Series debut at the Orlando Kart Center. It was the first time for him around the challenging 8/10-mile course with a very competitive field, finishing sixth and fifth over the two main events. Miles remained a top contender through the rest of the 2022 season before moving up to the KA100 Senior division at the USPKS finale held at New Castle Motorsports Park.
It was a breakout weekend for Miles, driving to victory in his KA100 Senior class debut on Saturday. Miles remained in contention until getting shuffled off track in the main event on Sunday. Dropping outside the top-10, the Senior rookie drove up to a third-place podium finish. He would then go on to finish second at the IAME USA Grand National Championship event at GoPro Motorplex in October 2023 before dominating the WKA Daytona KartWeek in KA100 Senior over the annual Christmas to New Year’s event timeslot. Both wins at Daytona International Speedway were by over five seconds. It was at the IAME race that Miles was awarded the Trackhouse Karting Career Advancement Award supported by KHI Management, IMSA and Trackhouse Racing. Miles was given a test in a Mazda MX-5 Cup car with McCumbee McAleer Racing.
Aside from testing at home when the snow is melted, Miles spent the first two months of the 2023 season waiting for his first event of the year. He traveled to the USPKS Southern Grand Prix on March 10-12 for his second visit to the facility with no pre-event testing at the Orlando Kart Center. When official sessions began on Friday, Miles was not in the top-10 of the quick time. He did, however, move up to the top spot for the Happy Hour session prior to qualifying. Running in the fast group of the 57-driver field, Miles set the tone for the weekend with a lap time of 56.619 to clear the field in qualifying by nearly two tenths.
Starting on the pole position for all three heat races, Miles continued to be the driver to beat on Saturday. The opening heat race – AvsB – saw Miles lead nine of the 12 laps for the race win. It was all but one lap in AvsC heat race that Miles showed the way, going on to earn his second heat win. For the first time on the day, Christian did not lead the most laps of a heat race as he fell back to second early in the AvsD moto. Nicholas Terlecki set the pace with Miles on his bumper. It was lap eight that Christian returned to the point but would later get challenged by Josh Campbell for the top spot. At the checkered, it was Miles taking the win by only 61 thousandths.
The three heat race wins kept the Mike Doty Racing / Brandon Jarsocrak Racing driver in the pole position for the main event. Miles led the way for the first six laps aboard his LN Racing Kart machine until the fight for the top position began. Terlecki was among the drivers leading the charge in a lead group that included up to seven drivers, featuring a lot of movement for position. At one point, Noah Rosser went from sixth to first in one corner, but then lost the lead with a slight mistake to allow Terlecki to take over. Miles settled in behind and waited to make his move until lap 16. Once into the lead, Christian began to inch away, lap by lap from the rest of the group fighting for second. At the checkered flag, it was a nine tenths margin of victory for his second USPKS victory in three series main events.
It was that performance at Orlando Kart Center to helped Christian Miles earn the EKN Driver of the Month for March 2023.
Miles now heads into the second event of the season – the Texas Grand Prix at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas on April 27-30 – as the championship leader with a 103-point advantage over Southern Grand Prix runner-up Aiden Levy. Christian is focused on the USPKS program for the 2023 season in addition to running a late model and legend cars during the summer months in his progression.
Bio
Born: January 19, 2007
Hometown: Paloma, Illinois
Parents: JT and Kaelee Miles
Siblings: Kruze and Camden
Height/Weight: 5’6″ / 118lbs.
Education: Central High School
Job: Driver coach at TNT Kartways and Sno Biz
Racing Resume
Chassis: LN Racing Kart
Engine/Engine Builder: BBS Race Engines
Sponsors: Mike Doty Racing/ Brandon Jarsocrak Racing/ BBS Race Engines
Series You Compete In: United States Pro Kart Series / WKA Manufacturers Cup Series / Superkarts! USA Pro Tour / Stars Championship Series
Years Karting: Started racing at 5 but was in a kart at age 2.
How did you get started in karting? My Dad and Grandpa.
What has been the high point in your racing career? Racing in Le Mans, France for the IAME International Finals.
What are your goals in racing? To make it a cart and pass my knowledge on to others.
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Smooth, calm, and collected
Funniest moment at the race track? Anytime you are on a track walk with Doty (laughing)!
Likes
Favorite Track: Daytona International Speedway kart track
Favorite form of professional motorsports: F1
Favorite karting driver: Brandon Jarsocrak
Favorite professional driver: Charles Leclerc and George Russell
Favorite website: eKartingNews
Favorite movie: Ford vs Ferrari
Favorite actor/actress: Kevin Hart
Favorite music/group: Linkin Park
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Race Track
Favorite food: Maid Rite in Quincy, IL
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? Work on the race car
What are your goals outside of karting? Keep up my high honors in school and race cars.
What app or game do you play right now? World of Outlaws
What type of street car would you like to drive? Ferrari
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? Spiders and snakes
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? Lower the cost of national racing and make the classes more equal / dirty drivers
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? Being in control of yourself.
