Dusty Steelman Competes for National Spotlight in AMA National Motocross Championship
Tuesday, July 18, 2017 | 9:35 AM
Virginia Steelman
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Local Racer Competes for National Spotlight in AMA National Motocross Championship
Historic Loretta Lynn Ranch Set to Host Largest Amateur Motocross Championship
Salisbury, NC (7/14/17) – Salisbury’s Dusty Steelman just made his dream come true. The 45-year-old dirt bike racer has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 36th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by Lucas Oil, to be held this August at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch. Steelman took on over 22,000 hopefuls from across America to earn one of just 1,446 qualifying positions.
“The Amateur National at Loretta Lynn’s is the event every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in,” said Event Director Tim Cotter. “A win at Loretta’s gives a racer instant national notoriety and can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career.”
Most of America’s top professional motocross racers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Ryan Dungey, have won AMA Amateur National titles at Loretta Lynn’s.
Steelman, who owns Dependable Lawn Care, has been riding dirt bikes since he was 6 years old. Dusty attended the 2nd AMA National Motocross Championship at the age of 11 in 1983, and it has been a lifelong dream to “go back to the ranch.” In requesting his racing bib number upon registering for this year’s event, Dusty received the same number he wore as a youth at Loretta Lynn’s ranch— number 40.
After being out of the sport for 27 years, Steelman decided to get back into motocross when his 6 year old son expressed an interest in riding. With the support of his family, church and racing community, Steelman has had the opportunity to pursue his dreams, of not only getting back into racing, but of returning to the Nationals. He has won about a dozen races in the last 3 years and rides nearly every weekend at East Bend Motorsports, Midway Arenacross, 421-MX and Wide Open MX.
Steelman will make the long journey to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee along with his family, cousin, Laura Williams, and longtime friends, Richard Yates and Jason Shehan. The race runs July 31 through August 5. Steelman and his family will be camping onsite for the week-long event, and will participate in many non-racing evening activities.
Steelman is just one of the over 22,000 racers across the country who spent the last four months qualifying for the event. The top finishers in Area Qualifiers and Regional Championships earn a gate position in the National Championship race at Loretta Lynn’s. Racers may enter a wide variety of classes, from minicycle classes for children as young as four, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 50. There are also classes for women and classes for both stock and modified machines. In total, there are 35 different classes of competition. Steelman will compete in the highly competitive 45+ class.
The track is built on a section of Loretta Lynn Ranch and Campground in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The course contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers. The motocross track is used only once a year for motorcycles, so there is no hometown advantage. Racers compete in three 15-20 minute races over the course of the week per class, sometimes in grueling temperatures. Proper training and preparation are paramount.
Most riders attend the event with the help of their families. In fact, many consider the event their family’s summer trip, nicknaming it the “World’s Greatest Motocross Vacation.” Besides the races, the week-long event hosts many family-friendly activities, including swimming, talent show, concerts, and live entertainment.
The race action will be broadcast live daily at www.RacerTV.com, July 31 through August 5, for a total of 48 hours of live coverage. In addition, two highlight shows featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network in the fall.
For additional information on the Amateur National, visit the official website at www.mxsports.com or call (304) 284-0101. Also, follow the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for exclusive content and to catch the latest news.
About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 57 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 13 Regional Championships (May through June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week in August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Nearly 22,000 racers attempt to qualify in 35 classes for the 1,446 available positions at the National. Christened "The World's Greatest Motocross Vacation", the National event serves as a launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey. The national program is produced by MX Sports, Inc., a West Virginia-based race production company and sanctioned by AMA. For more information, please visit www.mxsports.com.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
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