Tanner Earhart is the latest motocross sensation from the Mountain Empire

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.

The Kawasaki Tennessee State Motocross continues today at Muddy Creek. There will be action in 39 different classes, with pro riders such as Cody Robbins (Huntersville, N.C.), Kevin Walker and Jacob Hayes (Jamestown, N.C) serving as the headliners.

agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544