On a warm Sunday afternoon, a loud buzz is heard emanating from the Ponca City motocross racetrack. Despite heavy rains from storms the night before, kids are still able to weave through the mud and muck, around curves and flying over jumps. Around the racetrack, families are camped out for the event, one that truly has a festive feeling. More than 800 racers would hit the dirt and mud that weekend, as Ponca City hosted the Ponca City South Central Youth Regional Championship June 17 – 18, with winners competing for the national championship in only a few weeks.

The Ponca City race was one of eight races leading up to the national championship, which included youth riders, aged up to 16, and amateur, ages 17 and up.

The Championship is the Loretta Lynn National Championship, to be held at Loretta Lynn’s Campground in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., July 30 – Aug. 5.

“This race is very important. Loretta Lynn is the pinnacle of racing, so that making it there has prestige itself,” said Harold Martin, of MPG Creative Group, parent company of MotoPlayground, which is the official magazine covering motocross racing. They also have direct connections in promoting races in Ponca City.

“A lot of people go through the regionals, and they have to be in the top of the regionals to make it to Loretta Lynn,” he said. “A lot of people will also do a backup qualifier.”

From the sidelines at the regional performance, it is truly a spectacle. Not just a family-friendly event, but even a fair-like atmosphere, as recreational vehicles line the roads around the track, some stacked behind one another.

Driving the roads is itself somewhat dangerous, as many kids, and their older family members as well, are seen driving on their bikes, and even golf carts and ATVs, weaving through the maze of RVs and other vehicles and people.

Many companies like Dunlop Tires and Kawasaki have their own tents, showing their products like at the local fair.

It all makes the event that much more fun, though that wasn’t always what it was like in recent years.

Racing has long been a love within the Ponca City Community, starting near the American Legion Post 1201, located near Lake Ponca. With the help of AMBUCS, they moved to their current location on West Prospect, near the Ponca City Regional Airport.

Through the help of MPG Creative Group, starting in 2016, the motocross track has seen an upward growth, welcoming endless families and races to the small town of Ponca City.

There are several reasons why the facility has gained such widespread popularity.

One is a location to the community itself, which isn’t offered at all motocross tracks. Compared to motocross tracks across the country, it also is central, another draw.

“What is something to like about Ponca City is the location. It is somewhat centrally- located, so we get participants from both coasts, and also the amenities; (the track is) located right near the town,” Martin said.

It is also the family-friendly atmosphere, one of many generations of kids racing in motocross.

“There are several fathers here that raced, and now have their own kids that are racing,” Martin said.

Keeping high standards for a motocross track takes a dedicated team to ensure it is at its highest level when races are held.

“Bill (Stuever) and his crew made it very inviting and easy for us in doing what we do,” he said. “It is nice to have a professional, organized, competent people to work with the MotoPlayground race.”

That MotoPlayground Rwce st aponca City will take place Oct. 5 - 8 and is the pinnacle of Ponca City motocross’ race season, bringing in several thousand people and participants to Ponca City.

“Last year, we had 2,000 people, and we expect a 10 percent growth, so 2,200 this year,” Stuever said.

Martin added, “The Moto-Playground race in October, as far as numbers, we’re the largest single event in the country. We’re one of the largest events in the country.”

As for the track itself, it is well-known in the industry, a nationally recognized facility, one that draws thousands to Ponca City every year, all for a love of motocross.

“I’d say we’re in the top three (racetracks),” Martin said. “This is a very special place in the motocross community. It is iconic.”