State Quarter Midget champions Aeden Hobbs and Alexa Tripp-Herring at the Mesquite MX Park. Photo by Burton Weast.

State Quarter Midget champions Aeden Hobbs and Alexa Tripp-Herring at the Mesquite MX Park. Photo by Burton Weast.

The Nevada State Championships for quarter midget racing are coming to Mesquite with the construction of a one-eighth size dirt oval track at the Mesquite MX Park. The new track, east of the Palms Golf Course, will be the new home of the Las Vegas Quarter Midget Club and will feature the first race of the season on Feb. 21.

Quarter midget racing features drivers from 5 to 16 years old. The cars are powered by 140 cc engines and have all the safety features of a full size race car including five-point seat belts and roll bars.

Also racing in the future will be the “Outlaw” class cars with 500 cc engines and drivers 17 and older.

Club president Dr. Jeffery Hobbs is excited about having the series coming to Mesquite. “We are hoping it catches on with the locals and our club grows,” said Hobbs. For the last two years the club has been racing on asphalt but now will be switching to a dirt track.

Hobbs noted “We are kind of starting over because some of the current members have only raced asphalt.”

Hobbs expects drivers from California and Arizona to compete in Mesquite.

 

Aeden “Ace” Hobbs rounds the corner at the Mesquite MX Park track. Photo by Burton Weast.

Aeden “Ace” Hobbs rounds the corner at the Mesquite MX Park track. Photo by Burton Weast.

Jeff Hobbs straps his son “Ace” Hobbs into the quarter midget race car. Photo by Burton Weast.

Jeff Hobbs straps his son “Ace” Hobbs into the quarter midget race car. Photo by Burton Weast.

Alexa Tripp-Herring at full speed on the dirt oval track. Photo by Burton Weast.

Alexa Tripp-Herring at full speed on the dirt oval track. Photo by Burton Weast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hobbs six year old son Aedan, also known as “Ace,” will be competing for the second year and is currently Nevada State Champion in his age group. Working with young kids is a passion for Hobbs who is a biology teacher at Arbor View High School in Las Vegas.

Also helping to set up the Mesquite track for this weekend is John Tripp-Herring, who is a school principal and the father of 13 year old Alexa, who is state champion in her age group.

For information about the races or joining the club go to www.lvqm.webs.com. The site also has the complete race schedule for 2016.