05/27/2026
This weekend was packed with highs, lows, personal bests, setbacks, grit, and growth — exactly what racing is all about.
Starting with Ryker Smith #44 in Mini Limited — this freshly 7-year-old rookie lined up against 13 other drivers and continued proving that hard work pays off. Friday qualifying landed him P8 against tough competition, but intimidation has never really been Ryker’s thing. 😎
Saturday brought huge milestones. Ryker held steady in P9 during Moto 1 while setting a personal best lap time of 1:41. In Moto 2, he got tied up early, stayed patient, applied pressure, and made a clean final-lap pass while cutting FIVE seconds off his lap times during the race. For a first-year racer, learning how to make safe, clean passes is a massive accomplishment.
Sunday was all about determination. Ryker finished Moto 1 in P8 with a 1:42 fast lap, then absolutely sent it in Moto 2 by laying down another personal best of 1:38 before rolling in Turn 4. He climbed right back in and finished the race. Then he rolled AGAIN in Moto 3… and climbed back in AGAIN. 😂 Safe to say grit isn’t something this kid lacks.
Meanwhile, Jack Smith #87 came into Youth 1K determined to prove he belonged at the front of one of the toughest classes of the weekend — and he absolutely did. With 22 cars entered, the class was split into qualifying groups, where Jack laid down the fastest lap in Group 1 before ultimately qualifying P2 overall by just 0.11 seconds off the fastest driver. 👊⚡
Saturday’s Moto 1 saw Jack battle inside the top 3 all race long, ultimately finishing P3 while posting the 2nd fastest lap of the race. Moto 2 had the top three drivers separating from the field with Jack right there in the fight until a rock sliced a radiator hose, ending the race early with a DNF.
Sunday was a battle. Muddy conditions and a deep starting position made passing difficult, but Jack kept fighting. After struggling in Moto 1 and finishing P15, he regrouped and charged forward through the final motos, working his way back to a P7 finish. In a 22-car class on a short track, that takes determination. 💪
At the end of the day, results matter — but growth matters more. This weekend both boys showed speed, toughness, resilience, and heart. We couldn’t be prouder of how far they’ve come and how hard they continue pushing themselves.
Next stop: Champ Off-Road Round 2 in Antigo, Wisconsin. Live life pedal down. 💥🏁
DirtNation
