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News & race reports
Tanner Earhart is the latest motocross sensation from the Mountain Empire
David Crigger Bristol Herald Courier Blountville’s Tanner Earhart competes at Muddy Creek Raceway
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Tanner Earhart was surrounded by family and friends Saturday afternoon, but there was no time for play.
After a brief chat with his parents, the 12-year-old Blountville resident zipped off on another high-speed mission.
Welcome to the world of a motocross kid.
Fast learners
The Mountain Empire has long been blessed with a bevy of talented motocross racers, with Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tenn., serving as the epicenter of speed.
Motocross legends such as Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart have competed at the scenic track along with local heroes such as Mike Brown of Gray, Tenn., Kevin Walker of Kingsport, Tenn., and Zach Osborne of Abingdon, Va.
For Earhart, the path to stardom came after a family dare at the tender age of two.
“My dad said he would buy me a motorcycle if I could ride a bicycle,” Earhart said. “I rode the bike, and then I got a motorcycle for my third birthday. Things have carried on from there.”
Since entering his first race at age four, Earhart has won countless trophies and become a regular qualifier for the storied AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Earhart has posted two top 10 finishes in the AMA Nationals, which are held at Loretta Lynn’s sprawling ranch.
Saturday afternoon, Earhart was among hundreds of amateur and professional riders competing in the 26th annual Kawasaki Tennessee State Motocross Championship.
Earhart said he suffered two broken ribs and a bruised lung at a race in Pennsylvania two weeks ago, but he was determined to race Saturday.
“This is my favorite track, so I really want to do well,” Earhart said.
Despite his injury, Earhart finished second overall in Saturday’s Super Minis division. He was third overall in the 12 to 15 age group.
Broken bones and bruised egos are common in the motocross world. Earhart knows the lifestyle and accepts it.
“You definitely get sore in this sport, but you have to stay committed,” Earhart said. “I tried baseball for a while, but this is the sport I love.”
There are no shortcuts to success in motocross. Earhart doesn’t waste time with television or computer games. Instead he refines his technique at local and regional tracks and also trains twice a week with martial arts master David Collins.
“I run, do pushups and pull-ups, and climb nets. It all helps my endurance,” Earhart said.
Earhart has also developed the mental stamina to withstand the grueling trips to motocross tracks around the country.
“I’ve been to tracks in Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Maine – just all kinds of places,” Earhart said. “This year, we’re concentrating on the bigger races with faster riders and more competition.
I have to skip things like birthday parties, but this is where I want to be.“
Woodstock on Wheels
The hillsides around Muddy Creek featured an array of elaborate transporters and humble trailers Saturday. Family members shared cold water, track tips and colorful stories.
“It’s just like a big extended family out here,” said Candy Earhart, the mother of Tanner. “Tanner is always going to different places, so most of his friends are from different states.”
Candy admitted to feeling anxious while her son is powering through the starting gate or soaring over jumps.
“I do worry about Tanner, but he does everything for a reason,” Earhart said. “Tanner is a whole lot more mature than most kids his age.”
The maturity of the young Earhart was tested this past Christmas when he lost his best friend. Quinton Lowe, a 17-year-old student at Sullivan East High School and avid motocross rider, died in a tractor accident.
As a tribute to his fallen friend, Earhart will carry Lowe’s former motorcycle plate number for the Amateur Nationals on Aug. 2-7.
Candy Earhart said she marvels at that sign of compassion.
“For Tanner to go through the loss of Quinton and remember his friend in that way … it just really amazes me,” Earhart said. “Tanner and Quinton went everywhere together, and Tanner knows that Quinton is with him when he’s on that motorcycle.”
Earhart said he follows the lead of mentors such as Osborne, who recently won the inaugural Marty Moates Cup as the top finishing American racer in the United States Grand Prix at Glen Helen Raceway in California.
Earhart hopes to ride as a professional someday. He’s already earned the backing of various national sponsors.
It might not be easy, yet Candy Earhart understands that her son is fueled by his dreams.
“You just have to make sacrifices and have a commitment to the motocross life if you want to do well,” Earhart said.
Summer school
Earhart and his father have been on the road since the end of school. In addition to competing at tracks such as Muddy Creek, Earhart has attended the Trey Kelly motocross school in South Carolina and tinkered with his technique at Osborne’s practice track.
“Zach is probably my favorite rider,” Earhart said. “He fast, talented and he’s gone a long way in his career.”
The rapid maturation of Osborne serves as a guidepost to Earhart.
“I’m always learning,” Earhart said. “I used to improve by feet, and now I’ve cut my improvement down to inches.”
Earhart has already won nearly 10 races this season. The trophies just add to his hunger.
“I stay busy, but I love this lifestyle and I just have to keep going,” Earhart said.
Congratulations to my students that made it to the big show at Pleasure Valley.
Cameron Scheller made it in the 65 7-9
Brock Papi made it in the 85 9-11, I think we will see him on the 65 at L.L.
Great job guys!
Congratulations to all my students that made it to the big show in the Southeast regional and south-central regional.
Dawson simms made it in the Pw class again this year.
Tanner Earhart made it in the 85 12-14
Ethan Woods made it in the 65 7-9
Kobe Heffner made it in the 65 7-9
Congratulations guys you have all put a lot of hard work in and it has paid off. There was a lot of good racing this weekend and a lot of great riders came up short. Keep working hard, it always pays off. It was great to see a lot of guys at aonia pass I have not seen in a while, and it was great to meet a lot of people that I have just talked to on the phone. I would also like to thank Roger from Pro- motion racing suspension for pitting with me at the regional and keeping up all the bikes for my team riders and all of my students. Thanks Roger for all the help, it was greatly appreciated!
Congratulations to my students that made it to the big show this weekends youth regionals at Spring Creek, and thunder Valley.
Austin McKee finished second in the 65 10-11 stk class, and four in the 65 7-11 mod class, and the 85 mod 9- 11 he finished seventh. Great job Austin !
Brock Papi finished second in the 65 7-9 stk and he finished fourth in the 65 7-11 mod. Great job Brock !
Chase Sexton finished second in the 65 10 - 11 stk and finished first in the 65 7-11 mod class, he made it in both 85 classes but I'm sure will see him at L. L. On the COBRA 65. Great job Chase !
Grantt Doolittle finished third in the 50 7-8 stk class, and he finished 11th in the 65 7-9 class. Grantt won the first Moto in the 65 7-9 class, for the guys that did not get to see this race, that was one awesome ride. Great job Grantt !
Congratulation to everyone and I'm very proud of each one of you.
I will be at the Southeast regional this weekend, stop in the pits and say hello.
Good luck to everyone headed to the Southeast regional
Race report for the top 10 finishes of Team riders, support riders, and students of the TREY KELLY MX SCHOOL. I'm very proud of each and everyone of you guys, you have put in a lot of hard work and it has paid off, so congratulations to you!
Race report from Daytona Amateur SX
Ethan Woods had a great weekend at Daytona
65 7-9 he finished 2nd
Race report from area qualifier: Forest Glenn MX
Ethan Woods took home a pair of 3rds
65 7-9 stk 3rd
65 7-9 mod 3rd
Race report from Lake Whitney
Chase Sexton had a good two weeks with seven top 10 finishes.
65 10-11 stock he finished 6th
65 10-11 mod he finished 8th
65 7-9 open he finished 8th
85 9-11 he finished 18th
Jr. Mini he finished 10th
Race report from Oak Hill
65 10-11 mod he finished 9th
65 10-11 stock he finished 10th
65 7- 11 open he finished 5th
Race report from area qualifiers: Paradise MX
Tanner Earhart had a great weekend with two wins.
85 12-14 stock he finished 1st
85 12-14 Mod he finished 1st
supermini he finished 2nd
Race report from area qualifiers: iron city MX
Dawson Simms finished fourth overall in the PW class, what a incredible ride by this young man!
50 shaft class he finished 4th
Grantt Doolittle wins the 50 7-8 stock class, that was an impressive win!
65 7-9 stock he finished 7th
Brock Papi had a great weekend with four top 10 finishes.
65 7-9 stock he finished 2nd
65 7-11 mod he finished 9th
85 9-11 stock he finished 7th
85 9-11 mod he finished 9th
Austin McKee had some really nice Moto's this weekend.(Very impressive)
65 10-11 stock he finished 1st
65 7-11 mod he finished 2nd
85 9-11 mod he finished 2rd
Cameron Scheller had some very impressive moto"s this weekend also
65 7-9 stock he finished 3rd
If I have missed anyone's results please let me know!
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