By NICK SCHWIEN

nschwien@dailynews.net

When you're basically the youngest driver on the track, you might get a few second glances from the veterans of the series.

That might have started early in the United Rebel Sprint Series season for Taylor Milton.

But now the 14-year-old is turning heads while flashing a fast knowledge in his rookie season with the 305 sprint car series.

"It puts a little pressure on you because if people don't know you and you spin them out accidentally, they might look down on you because you're so young," Milton said. " ... But everyone's really nice, and that's been great for me."

What's also been great is the success Milton has experienced in his first URSS season. He's currently third in the South Division behind two seasoned drivers -- Brian Herbert and Mike Woodruff. Both probably started racing when Milton was in diapers, perhaps even before he was born.

But Milton has benefitted from veterans of the series.

"I've had a lot of help from older guys running in the series," the 14-year-old from Fargo, Okla., said.

He's also had some help of another young driver in the series, Taylor Velasquez.

Velasquez is only 17 and in his second year of racing a 305 sprint car.

"We've raced together for a long time," said Milton, who raced in nearly 10 years in micros, junior sprints and 600cc Outlaws. "We've raced since we've been little bitty.

"He's raced a year before me, and he helps me out a bunch."

Both Milton and Velasquez have served notice for the "young guns" of the series. Milton has won twice this year, while Velasquez has one win and finished third at the inaugural Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals earlier this month in Hays. That pocketed him $1,000.

"We're doing pretty good," said Velasquez, from Turpin, Okla., who is fourth in the South Division points race. "I kind of had a rocky start. But as the season's winding down, we're doing pretty good."

Despite battling engine problems earlier this season, Velasquez has started to hit a consistent stride. The boost he needed might have came with the third-place finish at RPM Speedway and his big payout.

"I've always felt pretty good," he said. "That was the first race I had that felt pretty decent in a couple weeks. It took some stress off my shoulders. My dad was on my case that week, and that got him settled down a bit. Since then, things are going well."

The young drivers hope to continue the trend this weekend as the URSS kicks off its version of speedweek with five races at Jetmore, La Crosse and Liberal.

Milton and Velasquez both are planning on competing this weekend, but Milton isn't sure he will make all five nights.

He took a hard ride during a heat race last weekend in Dodge City. But with the help of several other drivers in the URSS, he got his car back together and was able to rally from a 20th starting spot to finish seventh.

Velasquez finished second to Herbert that night.

But both have served notice as to how well they've improved in only a short time. Now, they're not track hazards but more of a winning threat.

"People know what I'm capable of doing, and they know I'm not going to wreck them," Milton said.