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Joey Crown, 9, started riding motocross bikes when he was just 3 years old and by the time he was 5, Joey was racing competitively. His mother, Karen, said, "it's in his blood."

Joey's interest in the sport was instilled in him by his father, Matt Crown. Matt started racing when he was 12 and he went professional from 1988-1997. Now, Matt owns Matt Crown Racing (MCR) which does custom work to fit an individual riders needs.

With such a strong background in the motocross industry, it is no surprise that Joey has found success at a young age by winning numerous races including two state championships.

Joey combined his past experience, the knowledge his father taught him and his pure talent to beat out more than 20,000 riders to qualify for Amateur Nationals at Loretta Lynn's for the second year in a row. Last year, Joey finished second in the nation. This year Joey will be competing in both the 7-9 age group bracket and the 7-11 age group bracket to try and take the coveted first place honor.

To qualify for the race, Joey had to place in the top six of an Area Qualifier in Illinois and a Regional Qualifier in Kentucky. When he was not busy trying to qualify for Amateur Nationals, Joey was busy with other races.

He races almost every weekend during the Michigan season which runs from April-November. When the Michigan season ends, the family heads south to Florida to allow Joey to compete in races there and in spring the family travels to Texas to enjoy the races.

With all that travel one has to wonder how a 9-year-old can keep up with his school work and be involved in other activities.

"He loves motocross," his mother, Karen, said. "He eats, sleeps and breathes it. But he knows that school comes first."

Joey received all As on his report card this past year and his mother said the Amateur Nationals recognize students in a special way that achieve success in the classroom.

"I actually have his report card with me," Karen said. "When you register for the race and show them you got all As on your report card, they place you on Loretta Lynn's Honor Roll and they give you an A plus sticker to put on your bike."

As for other activities, Joey said he has other interests besides motocross.

"It (motocross) is real fun and I just like it a lot," Joey said. "But I also do soccer and gymnastics. I like the trampoline and the rings."

For now, Joey is putting all other interests aside as he has his eye on the prize of coming in first place at Amateur Nationals.