SOUTHWICK – While this year’s schedule for The Wick 338 features many of the exciting events held over the last several years, including, of course, The National, several other events will bring even more racing to one of the world’s most famous motocross tracks.
“We’ve been able to add the Loretta Lynn MX,” said Rick Johnson, the manager of The Wick 338, during his annual visit with the Select Board to discuss the 2026 schedule.
The Lorreta Lynn is the amateur version of the national championship, which is held in August in Tennessee, he said.
“We’ve always had the area qualifier at The Wick, but this year we’re going to have the regional qualifiers, so that means every rider who wants to compete in the national championship in Tennessee in August will have to go through Southwick,” Johnson said.
He said that includes all the racers from all of New England, New York, as far west as Ohio and down to Virginia.
“So, it’ll be a well-attended event,” Johnson said of the qualifier that will be held on the weekend of June 6-7.
The Wick will also host its first-ever AMA Massachusetts State Motocross Championship.
“Believe it or not, there’s never been one in the state in all the years that racing has been up here,” he said of the spring event on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26.
There is also another new event, Johnson said.
The Wicked Hare Scramble is a form of off-road motorcycle racing that varies in distance and time, with the riders completing multiple laps around a marked course through wooded or other rugged natural terrain.
“It’s a little bit of woods and a little bit of track,” Johnson said about the event on Nov. 1.
And to kick off the season’s schedule, which opens on March 27 and closes on Dec. 5, the Wicked Woods O’Cross will be held on March 28 and May 10.
It’s an off-road motorcycle racing event featuring woods-style racing (cross-country) rather than traditional stadium motocross, utilizing the natural terrain, loamy sections and wooded areas surrounding the famous motocross track.
Johnson always let the board know about the success of The Crestview Construction Inc. National, which is being held this summer on July 11, “a couple of weeks later” than usual.
Because online sales of tickets were “disappointing” last year, Johnson said there was a switch in ticket vendors from Feld Entertainment to TicketSpice.
“I’m very happy to report they are pretty far ahead of last year’s [ticket sales], so that looks good,” he said.
As for the attendance at The National, Johnson said the attendance was about even from the year before.
Board member Russ Anderson asked Johnson if he thinks the attendance at the race has “maxed out.”
Johnson said there had been a “nice increase” over the last few years.
He said the coverage by NBC’s Peacock channel has been great, but it’s hard to compete with them.
“If you’re gonna have a real hot day, they’re not gonna show up,” he said of The National fans. “They’re gonna sit on the couch in the air-conditioned room and watch it, so that’s always a challenge for us. And we never know what to expect until the day before.”
He said every year, they invest in [The National] like it’s going to be the biggest event in the world.
“And then you hope it comes through,” he said.
Mother nature is always a challenge for the sand track, and Johnson said 10 events were cancelled because of rain.
But he singled out Crestview Construction, Inc., for its help.
“We’re fortunate that we have [them] as a title sponsor for the National Crestview Construction, and they’re with us all year, helping take care of some of that stuff. It’s really nice to have them on our side,” he said.
Returning events
The Wicked Mudder is a 5K full of fun, mud, slides, ropes and more mud, according to its Instagram page Aug. 23.
The mountain bike racing series called Race Day XC, which is sanctioned by USA Cycling and has 10 events scheduled throughout New England, will stop at The Wick 338 on April 12 for the Wicked XC.
The J Day Off Road series continues and will visit The Wick 338 twice this season: Sunday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 11.
A new event two years ago, the Wheel Life Rally, New England’s premier personal electric vehicle series — a highly powered electric unicycle — is returning on the weekend of Aug. 14 and 15.
