The race had looked like being another Reed show-ride after the runaway title leader took the holeshot, but the Australian fell just before the finish line on lap six and remounted back in eleventh.
That handed Millsaps the lead and, while Kevin Windham soon moved into second place, he was unable to reel in the former Lites class champion. Andrew Short completed a Honda podium sweep with third position, while Reed recovered to sixth.
"I don’t like to take a win like this, but a win is a win," admitted Millsaps. "I had a lot of friends and family here tonight, so winning in front of them is huge, especially my first win in this class."
Meanwhile, in the first professional Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites race of his career, Torco Fuels Honda’s Trey Cannard led all 15 laps of the main event en route to the victory.
Canard won the $1,000 Progressive Holeshot Award with KTM’s Ryan Sipes in tow, while reigning Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites champion Ryan Villopoto crashed in turn one along with fellow pre-event favourite Josh Grant.
On lap six, Villopoto, while working his way through traffic, crashed once again and could not finish the race. On lap seven, KTM’s Martin Davalos, passed Sipes for second place.
"I do not know what to say right now," said Cannard. "I have waited my whole life for this, and to get the win means so much to me. I had a great heat race and was ready for the main."
AMA Supercross Class Results, Atlanta:
1. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
2. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
4. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
5. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
6. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
7. Charles Summey, Huntersville, N.C., Yamaha
8. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda
9. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
10. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings:
1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 184
2. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 159
3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 137
4. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 123
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 121
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 101
7. Joshua Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 84
8. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 84
9. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 72
10. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 69
Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Atlanta:
1. Trey Cannard, Elk City, Okla., Honda
2. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM
3. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM
4. Jake Moss, Australia., Yamaha
5. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ken., Yamaha
6. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda
8. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair., Mich., Suzuki
9. Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Ben Coisy, Manosque, France, Honda
