Danika Miles shows her new dragster to students in the Richard Winn gym. | Barbara Ball
WINNSBORO – Ridgeway drag racing rising star Danika Miles unveiled her new dragster Thursday at a special event at Richard Winn Academy, where she’s a sixth grader.
Miles’ new ride was not only a sign of the preteen’s intentions to seek a championship this year, but showcased her accomplishment of having two national sponsors to back her efforts this racing year.
“It was really awesome and exciting,” Danika stated of the unveiling.
“It was really great to see that my friends supported me so much.”
Miles has had a busy 2019 already. Earlier this month, she and her father Gabe Miles traveled to New York City to sign contracts and make official two national sponsors – school cafeteria food supplier ES Foods and ice cream maker A La Mode
E S Foods spokesperson Amy Josephson said the company chose the 11-year-old as the face of E S Foods because she embodies everything the company was looking for in a school-aged role model.
“In many ways, Danika is your average school kid, yet also is a role model leading an extraordinary life,” Josephson stated. “We thought this was a fun, unique way to promote E S Foods while honoring a successful middle school student.”
Danika’s image will now be on all E S Foods posters and material, and in the coming weeks she will be filming her very first commercial slated for release on social media platforms.
The title sponsorship will not only make Danika a more prevalent name across the world as one f the youngest rising stars in the drag racing sport, but will help her team accomplish goals that were once out of reach for financial reasons.
In addition to Danika’s new dragster, the sponsorships have enabled the team to purchase a new trailer and provided financial assistance for travel, equipment and repair costs.
Gabe Miles said the freedom of those financial restraints will free Danika from holding back in future races.
“Before, this was all out of our own pocket. So, any repairs or replacements we paid for, and she would worry about taking risks that might cause extra expenses. Now, that worry has been removed and she only has to focus on racing,” Miles stated.
Danika’s first race of the 2019 season will be March 2 in Darlington, and she said she already has her eye on the big prize.
“I want the championship. That’s what my goal is for this year,” she stated.
Despite the big changes occurring in her life, Danika remains the quiet, unassuming girl her family has always known, Miles said. She’s on the RWA basketball team which placed second in the region standings, and she is preparing to compete in her school’s beauty pageant.
“She’s still being a girl, still being a kid. She might be a force to be reckoned with on the track, but in her personal life she’s the same sweet, shy little girl who gets nervous when she has to talk on the phone,” Miles stated.
Miles’ racing journey can be followed on social media on the Facebook page Miles Custom Racing.
