Rio Grande Youngster is Grand National Racing Champion

The Bartleson family spent last Sunday afternoon in a traffic jam on the way home to Rio Grande from Hagerstown, Md.
Not that they enjoy bumper-to-bumper traffic, but James and Crystal Bartleson routinely travel the northeast corridor of the United States and even tackle states like Indiana and Illinois to expose their youngest child, Jesse James, to the best dirt track racing they can encounter.
The 10-year-old Stone Harbor Elementary School pupil has strapped on the harness and helmet of competitive racing since his fourth birthday and he’s become accustomed to winning point totals and rather large trophies.
Young Bartleson is the reigning Grand National Champion for the coveted Light World Formula Division of dirt track racing. He overcame a slow start at the Indiana event to overtake 28 other cars in his age classification of 9 to 16.
“There were 243 total cars in all categories from all over the country,” said Crystal. “They came from Colorado, Alabama, Georgia and the northeast. It’s the best competition so people travel far to get the opportunity to show their stuff and enjoy racing camaraderie.”
The northeast division most includes competitors from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. “We had a large contingent of northeasterners in Indiana,” said Crystal. “We were joking about how we had to travel so far to face our local competitors.”
Over the past year, Jesse James garnered the most wins at the Blackburg Track in New Castle, Del., for the Light 160 motor class. Six races in different northeastern U.S. locations are tallied with points earned to achieve the crown. Most of the circuit’s events are held between April and August. The competitions are staged on various sizes of track and surfaces which can range from clay to a specific texture of dirt. New Jersey does not offer red clay courses due to Pinelands preservation issues.
“Depending on the track, cars can reach up to 50 miles per hour,” said Crystal. “The higher levels of competition use larger Briggs and Stratton engines which can run the cars considerably faster.”
Jesse James also earned the title of Northeast Dirt Champion in the Light 160 category by garnering the most points. He took third in the Northeast Dirt Tour Division in the Light World Formula competition, the highest class in the sport.
“You race in heats,” said Crystal, whose 25-year-old son, Bobby, travels everywhere to handle crew chief duties for his little brother. “The points earned are based on finishes.”
As the Grand National Champion, Jesse James took home a whopping seven-foot trophy and the honor of maintaining the title until next year’s competition in Illinois.
Despite all of the travel and the preparation, mechanical failures can disrupt the fortunes of even the best racers. The car Jesse James was driving in Maryland suffered a brake rotor problem which eliminated him from the race.
The family will buckle up for a trip to Ohio at the end of September to try to reclaim the points lost with the brake malfunction.
“We do this because it is very enjoyable family time together,” said Crystal. “It’s not a sport where you sit on the sidelines or drop your kid off and leave. His brother gives up his life to be the crew chief and we all get to be together for the trips. We also get to meet good friends out on the circuit. It’s all about the people you meet. The sport teaches great values because everyone supports each other.”
Jesse James agrees with mom.
“When I win we get to celebrate,” he said. “I’m only 10 and I’m beating a lot of other racers. Our entire family gets to go out and have fun.”
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net