Local racer competes for national spotlight in AMA National Motocross Championship

Wetumpka resident Matt McLing, 15, qualified for the 39th annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship to be held in August. 

Wetumpka’s Michael McLing just made his dreams come true once again. The 15-year-old dirt bike racer has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 39th annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, to be held Aug. 3-8 at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch.

McLing took on nearly 20,000 hopefuls from across America to earn one of just 1,512 qualifying positions. This is the third time McLing will be making this trip.