Before 7-year-old Chase Wilkerson could walk, he was drawn to his brother’s dirt bike toys.
“It’s definitely something he’s been obsessed with,” mom Shannon Wilkerson said.
“He would drive them around and make all of the sounds before he could even walk, all the time. Now it’s just real motor noises.”
From July 29 to Aug. 3, Chase will be representing Brown County on the national stage as he races his motocross bike in the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC American Motorcyclist Association amateur national motocross championship.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]The championship will take place in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, at country star Loretta Lynn’s ranch. It’s presented by Lucas Oil.
Chase will race in the 6-year-old class since the championship rules go by the child’s age as of Jan. 1.
To earn a spot in this national championship, Chase had to place in the top 10 at the Wildcat Creek MX qualifying race in Rossville, Indiana, in April.
From there, Chase had to place in the top five in the Mideast Youth Regional race in June at the RedBud track in Michigan. Chase won third overall.
“It was pretty awesome. It was pretty exciting. We’re pretty happy for him. He worked really hard. He’s gone up against a lot of fast riders, crazy-fast kids,” Shannon said.
His 10-year-old brother, Jack, also competed, but experienced some bike issues during his race, causing him not to advance.
“That was a big national track, so that was their first time getting to ride on the track they see the guys on TV riding. That was a big deal to them,” Shannon said of the RedBud race.
The big track was new to the parents, too.
“Everything is fenced off. Usually, 50 parents can go out and help, pick them up and help them start their bike. You can’t do that up there,” Shannon said.
“There are, like parents hanging on fences, screaming and yelling. It was the biggest, fastest race we’ve been to.”
Chase said the competition at RedBud was the most fun one he has ridden in yet. He has been riding motocross since he was about 4 years old.
“He had a little Strider (bike) at first, then he took off on the pedal bike at 2 in his underwear. We were like, ‘Yup, he’s got it,’” He started pedaling and never stopped pedaling or riding,” Shannon said.
The Wilkerson family spends almost every weekend at a motocross track, competing in different series including the Stoney Lonesome series in Columbus, the Crossroads cross-country series in Greencastle and the IXCR cross-country series all over Indiana.
When asked what he likes most about riding, Chase’s answer is simple: “Going fast and winning.”
Riding and racing is in his blood. Jack also has been riding since he was 4.
When asked if his big brother inspired his love of riding, Chase nods his head with a smile.
“Constant riding buddies,” Shannon said.
The two boys have an older brother and two older sisters. Eleven-year-old Maddie Browning will get out to ride with her brothers at the family’s property, but prefers not to take her talents to competitions.
Their oldest brother has competed in the motocross competitions at the Brown County Fair, too. Sister Kate tried riding once, too, but it wasn’t for her.
Dad Kenneth also races in Stoney Loneseome series. Then the kids’ grandpa races down at the Brown County Dragway.
Riding motocross doesn’t come without injuries, though. Chase fractured his ankle in a race a couple of years ago. Around the same time, Jack broke both bones in his leg during a race.
“They both were in wheelchairs with the same leg at the same time,” Shannon said.
“It wasn’t easy to get him (Chase) to take it easy. We had RC cars and stuff, trying to keep him into the racing. They raced remote control cars so that they could race something.”
Jack’s injury required more recovery time, as his involved surgery and having rods put in his legs.
“About the time he got feeling good, they had to take the rods back out, so it was like starting back over,” Shannon said.
Watching your little one race around on a motocross track can cause some freak-out moments for mom, too. She said she doesn’t calm down until the race is over.
“They finish, they’re unhurt, then we’re good. It’s more of just a freak-out until then,” she said.
Chase said he is most looking forward to the championship “just to have fun.”
“Try your best. It’s a big thing,” Shannon said to him. “You can’t be torn up when you’re not the first out or the fastest out of the fastest.”
Chase is excited to represent Nashville, too.
“Whenever we go to these competitions and say we’re from Nashville, people always ask if it’s Nashville, Tennessee. Chase always says, ‘No, Nashville, Indiana.’ It’ll be fun to represent Little Nashville in Tennessee,” Shannon said.
Chase’s siblings are excited to watch him compete on the national stage.
“It’s scary because he’s crazy,” Maddie said with a laugh.
“He goes so fast.”
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From July 29 to Aug. 3, 7-year-old Chase Wilkerson will represent Brown County in the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC American Motorcyclist Association amateur motocross championship. It will take place on country star’s Loretta Lynch’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
The cost is $700 to register and pay for a camping permit. The Wilkerson family estimates it will cost an additional $800 for racing fuel.
If anyone wishes to donate to Chase’s trip, they can do so by emailing mom Shannon at [email protected].
The family’s sponsors include Spykes KTM dealership in Lafayette and Wilkerson Forestry.
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