Troy Dog
I’ve been to RedBud every year for the most part since 2005. It’s a streak that is very important to me because RedBud is my happy place. Ever since Kenworthy’s closed up in 2004 we needed a home National and that is what RedBud became…until the closer Ironman opened up in 2014.
Nonetheless, Ironman just doesn’t hold that same place in my heart. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but it lacks memories for me. I’ve camped at RedBud for years with friends and family and Ironman is a day trip.
This year I wanted to approach covering the race differently than years passed. I wanted to give my family the best race weekend imaginable. So, I packed up the family truckster and off we went. Bub Dog (5) and Duke Dog (3) have been to RedBud one time in their lives.
We took this same trip in 2021 when Duke was barely eight months old and Eli was two, so he doesn’t remember it. We didn’t get to watch very much racing that weekend, but it didn’t matter. I was at a special place with my people and it was the first race I had been to with fans since the Covid deal.
This time I wanted to cruise the pits and show the dudes a side of RedBud that no ordinary fan can see.
Thursday
We loaded up on Thursday morning and started our journey to the greatest party in motocross. As you heard in last week’s Squad Pod, Bub and Duke have been fired up for weeks yelling REDBUD and doing nonstop air horn sounds.
After stopping several thousand times, and driving in a variety of rain storms, we finally made it to the track around 6PM. We unloaded and the boys ran around riding their bikes and then when it was dark enough we caught lightening bugs. Thursday was uneventful, but Friday was interesting…
Friday
The hype had set in. The boys were completely unhinged and feral with excitement. I tried to tell them to save the real energy for Saturday, but they were vibing. We went up to the track and watched the local racing, then the Combine, as well as the press day action.
I took them into the pits and got them their ‘special passes’ and then we headed over the HEP Suzuki truck. There I saw their Director of Media, Chase Lenneman, taking a short break in between setting up and bike tech. I asked him if he could give the kiddos a tour of the truck and he did it no questions asked. He showed them drawers with parts, introduced them to Matt (Active Ride Suspension), gave them suckers and stickers. Then we went upstairs and I had to show them MY locker, which was James Stewart’s and Ricky Carmichael’s before me. For some reason, Shane McElrath had his stuff in there. I started to move his stuff, but by then the tour was over. They saw some fresh Chiz gear on the way out and thought that was cool as well. Oh, and a Ken Roczen bike, which Bub Dog was in awe about.
Next we went over to chat with Squad Athlete Ashton Bloxom. Bloxom and his family brought us ice, which saved our coolers as we packed way too many food and drinks for the weekend, but it never hurts to be prepared, right?
Bloxom showed us around his rig that he pits out of as well, the boys got his autograph, and asked him racing questions. It was a cool moment for all of us. Meanwhile, Ginger Dog sat outside with Ashton’s mom, Jana, and she helped cut out Ashton’s extra graphics from his patriotic DaBaum Designs kit.
That was really the only excitement of the day. I had some business to attend to in the pits and I did that and poked my head in on some riders who were there on press day. The amateur racing program and second Moto of the Combine were canceled due to the third rainstorm of the day. They had pushed too much top soil off in the first two storms, so they needed to save the track for Saturday.
We laid low the rest of the day. The boys were hyped beyond belief and didn’t go to sleep until 11PM.
Saturday
RACE DAY!
Like I said earlier, I wanted to give my family the ultimate race day experience, so did I just sit them in the media tent to watch the TV in there? NO. We were out in the thick of things!
First, while I awaited everyone waking up in the camper, I went out to find We Went Fast’s Brett Smith for a tour of the TV Compound. I had never seen the inside of those trucks before and I was curious what goes on. Well, when you step inside mission control you’re met with a small community of very smart people and a million monitors. The air conditioning is cranked in there for comfort, it was like an ice box. Brett walked me through what each screen does and I saw the infamous “Bondo” at work. He’s got the best seat in the house.
Then Brett and I walked ten feet over to the broadcast booth. Weege and RC weren’t in yet unfortunately, but I had the chance to learn what happens when the broadcast is filming and was told about the new trailer they had built with special glass so the commentators could see out and no one can see in. I thanked Brett for his time and the opportunity and went to the pits to talk to riders after qualifying.
I ran into Kevin Moranz, who was stoked on qualifying 21st in the first practice session as he said it was the best that he’s ever done. He didn’t offer me any snacks, which was a total bummer. I asked where they were too. Just wanted to let you guys know that I followed up on this.
I walked around some more and made small talk, but nothing really stands out to report. I mostly collected some silly season knowledge that I need to confirm before I report on it. Then I went to check out LaRocco’s leap and I saw Freddie Noren catch an absolute case on it. He had a vicious wreck. No one was really hitting it in practice due to the short run up and how deep and wet the track was.
I went back to the camper to get the crew and we walked back over to the Leap. This was the first time the boys had ever seen it, so each time someone jumped it they were in awe. I was too. It literally never gets old. It’s an intense jump, especially when you’re standing next to the face. The Cowboy was the first guy to hit the jump in the second qualifying session much to the delight of Bub Dog, who may be AP’s number one fan at this point.
We put the boys on our shoulders and watched the entire session. A moment I’ll never forget. Then we went back to the RV to save their energy for the Motos. I stayed out to watch the LCQs. Then we packed up the wagon for the day.
Side note: Big Rick Dog, my dad, used to pull me laps and laps around Kenworthy’s in my own wagon when I was a kid. I had everything I needed in it. Snacks, drinks, blankets, it was also my step stool along the fence. So, we set this up for the our kids as well and it turned out to be the saving grace of the day.
We watched every Moto from the packed infield. At one point we had to get crafty because the hills were lined with so many people that we had to find a different area to watch, so we went outside the gate and re-entered down by the tunnel next to the sand whoops. I did a few laps around the place with the wagon up many hills with about 80 pounds of weight in it. Being the ELITE Athlete that I am, I’m only feeling A LOT of soreness on Wednesday morning as I write this. I’m tired. I thanked my dad for pulling me in the wagon all those years and he was like, “It was easy, Kenworthy’s didn’t have any hills.” Ohhhhh…
To give my family the proper podium experience, we found a spot on the fence where we could still see the race and the podium. We camped out here for the Moto. It was perfectly in the shade as well. Bub Dog wanted to be on TV and get sprayed with champagne. We had the chance to be in the thick of the 250 podium celebration and see how happy team Honda HRC was for Shimoda and Hymas. We did make it on TV if you look quick enough and we were sprayed with champagne.
The cherry on top of the perfect day, was when a member of the Kawasaki crew came over and singled out Bub Dog to give him Ty Masterpool’s race worn goggles. Not only that, but they had noticed that Duke Dog was up in the mix as well and gave him a pair of his goggles as well. It truly was a class act of them to realize that I had two kids and give them both a pair…I mean I guess we were the only kids around the podium, but still. That was a cool experience.
We went and found Ty on the way back to the RV after the last 450 Moto and he signed both pairs for the boys. Ginger Dog was pumped because she’s a big fan of the way that Ty rides and of his personality. So now we have Masterpool goggles everywhere.
The boys had the chance to meet Shane McElrath after the race as well. I went up to check in on him and invited him on the podcast soon.
We ate an awesome dinner that Ginger Dog prepared, then we took a walk down to the night track and ran around the empty pro pits. Then on Sunday morning we packed up and drove home. It was one of the best times at a National that I’ve ever had and I’ve been to a lot. To see my kids having so much fun that they couldn’t stop to close their eyes at night was great to see. Ginger Dog and I will be happy to do this again next year.
I want to give a shoutout to my friend Kirk Newman, he’s the man in charge of RedBud Security and he helped me park in my special VIP spot and hooked me up all weekend. He brought me ice, gave us a ride to the post office drop off, and kept checking on me to make sure we were okay throughout the weekend. Hospitality is his his middle name. I’m grateful people like Kirk Dog exist on this planet. It makes me want to be a better person. He didn’t have to do any of this for us on the busiest weekend of the year…but he did. Thanks brother.
Until next year…
Main Image: Octopi Media
