Local riders head to Loretta Lynn Nationals
Four Southern Nevada riders are heading to the Amateur National Motocross Championship, or what’s more commonly known as the Loretta Lynn Nationals.
The event will be July 27 through Aug. 2 at the legendary country singer’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
Three riders qualified for nationals in a regional meet May 31 in Hesperia, Calif. Two qualified in the 250cc class, with Henderson’s Blake Slagle, 17, and Las Vegas’ Austin Burke, 20, claiming the top two spots. Las Vegas’ Austin Camden, 6, won the 50cc special limited class.
Henderson’s Jax Krahenbuhl, 5, won the May 17 qualifier in Turlock, Calif., in the 50cc shaft drive limited.
■ MOVING OUT, UP — Nikky Saxon left Las Vegas two years ago for Indianapolis to attend college, and she took her racing career with her.
Saxon, a 20-year-old student majoring in motorsport engineering at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, made her Super Late Model debut May 28 in Columbus, Ohio. She started 27th, but finished 18th in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race.
Her next race is July 5 in Angola, Ind.
Saxon began racing go-karts in Las Vegas when she was 8, and later raced at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring from 2010 to 2012. She won 10 races in the Legend Cars, finishing second overall in Legend Cars-Semi Pro in 2012 and coming within six points of winner Blake Olsen.
■ BULLRING HEATS UP — Only two racing nights, June 28 and July 3, remain before the Bullring takes its annual break because of the valley’s summer heat.
July 3 will be the Night of Fire, with Fourth of July fireworks going off about 10 p.m. A 76-lap Super Late Model feature race also will be run, and $1 hot dogs and Cokes will be sold. Fans also can see a jet-car burn and waterless boat races.
The Bullring then will be quiet until racing returns Aug. 30.
Four-time champion Scott Gafforini has a 16-point lead in Super Late Models, Vinny Raucci Jr. leads by nine in Super Stocks, and Don Sargent leads by 72 in Bombers.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.
