ABOVE: Klay Beemer stands with his B-Mod dirt track car, as they get it ready for the USRA Nationals beginning October 1.

FAIRMONT – Hoping that the third time’s the charm, 17-year-old Klay Beemer is making the trip down to Wheatland, Missouri for the USRA Nationals beginning on October 1.

Beemer started racing when he was 10 years old, putting laps down in go-karts. After gaining experience, Beemer’s father bought him a B-Mod dirt track car at 14 years old. This year was his breakout moment.

“It’s definitely surprised me,” he said. “Coming from last year not winning, then this year, now having six wins. I definitely wanted to get the numbers up with the top fives and 10s. I was hoping to get, like, one or two wins this year. I was not expecting six.”

Beemer scored his six victories in 47 races across Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin in standard B-Mod dirt track competition. From last year to now, Beemer said he has definitely felt a difference throughout these races.

“We definitely changed a lot on this car from last year,” he said. “We had someone come and help us set this car up. It’s been driving for me way better than last year.”

This is Beemer’s third year at the USRA Nationals. Even with his experience, he said there is still a rush of excitement to know it’s on the horizon.

“It’s something that most people never get to experience,” Beemer said. “Going there is completely different from these tracks around here. Just trying to keep up with the local guys is always a win in my books.”

While some drivers will have a home-field advantage, others come from across the USA to compete.

Like with his racing career as a whole, his performances in the nationals have been a steady incline. In his first year with 90 opponents, he didn’t make it out of his first feature race, while his second year with 44 opponents saw a transfer spot into the big show slip away on the last lap.

This year, with 49 entered drivers including himself, Beemer said he has worked on getting these jitters out.

“Coming from the years before, I got in my head a lot,” he said. “This year, I’m in my head sometimes, but I’ll calm down and think of what I need to do, and I just do that.”

Compared to local racing in Fairmont and even his trips to other states, Beemer said Nationals is a whole different level.

“It’s definitely a different race here than there, because you don’t know who’s good there and who’s all local,” he said. “You just know the guys that you race around here.”

The Beemer crew has been working hard to get the car ready. Currently, Beemer said they are working on the rear-end springs and shocks.

Given the area’s racing history, Beemer said it feels good to be representing Fairmont on as big a stage as the USRA Nationals.

“It’s definitely something I never thought I’d be doing at my age,” he said. “Knowing I’m just a teenager, not knowing what’s gonna happen, and they’ve seen all that’s happening.”

While he will have one more summer, Beemer will be putting racing on hold for college. This means now is his last USRA Nationals for the foreseeable future, and he’s looking to make it count.

“This is definitely my best shot of getting into the big show this year for what I’ve accomplished this year compared to all the other years of racing,” Beemer said. “I gotta have a good mindset, drive good, and hopefully I can get in the big show.”