Local teen races for the big time

A local boy is currently working toward his biggest dream to date — a spot at national motocross championships.

Jared Billingsley, 17, of Baker, has qualified for the Southeast Amateur Regional for both the Loretta Lynn American Motorcycle Association Amateur National Championship and the Ponca City National Motorcycle Grand National Championships. This is one of the top race formats that an amateur can achieve in motocross.

Billingsley must finish in the top eight in regional competition to continue on to the Loretta Kynn Nationals at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Hills, Tennessee. He must finish in the top 12 in regional competition to advance to the Ponca City Grand Nationals in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Billingsley raced at Fast Track MX Ranch in Cairo, Ga., during the last weekend of April to qualify for regional competition. He achieved ninth place in MX Lites 125-250cc Modified Class and 10th place in the MX Lites 125-250cc Stock Class. He will now have a qualifier spot for the regional race at Muddy Creek MX Track in Blounteville, Tennessee on June 14-15. He also has secured a spot to attempt to qualify for the Ponca City Grand Nationals on July 20-26 in Oklahoma.

Billingsley is currently training with Chad Rager and team Moto-Tech. The team is sending several athletes to regional and then to the championship finals.

Billingsley’s home track is Southern Motocross Association at Oak Grove in Blackman, where he rides for 090 Racing. He is a junior at Baker School and plans to go to University Technical Institute/Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Orlando upon graduation in 2009. His proud parents are Joe and Teresa Billingsley of Baker.