Q&A with Rob Pretts and Jason Fox, D23 ARMCA Flat Track racers
Flat Track motorcycle racing is a small but mighty discipline within District 23 ARMCA, making up just under 5% of the district’s members. But don’t let that fool you! Behind Motocross, Flat Track has the most youth participants and the sport has been consistently growing their numbers for the last 5 years. And you don’t have to be a kid to get into Flat Track... just ask Rob Pretts and Jason Fox, who both didn’t start Flat Track racing until later in their careers and are now two of the fastest guys on the track.
Rob and Jason aren’t total strangers to racing... Jason grew up racing Motocross, switching to go-kart racing and eventually trying Flat Track when his father started racing but gave up motorcycles all together once he became a family man. Rob started off racing Karts, then street riding, that led to Road racing... which he wasn’t too bad at—winning a #1 plate in 2010 with CRA. Similar to Jason, once starting a family, Rob transitioned away from motorcycles to mountain bikes for a while. The racing itch just needed to be scratched and both have found their way into D23 ARMCA Flat Track racing and have continued to be good friends and even fiercer competitors ever since. Rob Pretts was the 2023 overall points champion for District 23 Flat Track and Jason Fox took first in all 3 of his classes with 19 D23 wins.
Jason Fox [83] and Rob Pretts [85] lead the Senior 40+ race at the Jacks of Spade To the MaXX part 3 Flat Track races at the Scott County fairgrounds in Jordan, MN on June 24, 2023. Photo by Hayley Selinski.
Can you both share a little about yourselves and how you got into motorcycles/Flat Track racing?
Jason Fox: I hope you have a lot of space for these answers because everyone in Minnesota Flat Track knows I love to talk, especially about myself. I started racing Motocross at 12 and that’s when I first became a D23 member. I always finished at the back and got injured a few too many times. After giving up Motocross, I tried Karting and continued to finish at the very back of the pack. At that same time my dad decided to give Flat Track a try. I thought he was completely insane to be racing on those dirt ovals with what looked like slick tires and no front brake. But after watching a few of his races I had to try it. My first Flat Track race I ran two classes. I crashed trying to pass my dad in one and I thought “oh boy here we go again, another discipline I’m awful at” but in the other class, I won. Over the next few years, I got a bit quicker and moved up in classes. I won a few races and thought I was rather good. I went to one national in 2007 and failed to make the main in what was then was called the pro sport class. Not long after that I broke my hand, met a pretty girl, bought a house, got married, had a few kids and gave up on motorcycles. I got back into Flat Track right when the hooligan stuff started taking off. It really sparked my interest in racing again. I found a cheap Harley Sportster that was blown up and I spent every spare night and weekend over the next three months at my friend’s shop getting it ready to race.
Robert Pretts: I’ve been into riding and racing most of my life. I started really getting into racing at the age of 12 racing Karts, and I was involved in Karting for almost 20 years. I raced everything from a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton up to Shifter Karts. In 1999 I got my first street bike, a 99 GSXR 600. I’ve had a few other street bikes and then in 2006 I turned my 04 R1 into a race bike and I was hooked on Road racing. I did that for 7 years, getting new bikes pretty much every year. I was decent at that. Winning a #1 plate in 2010 with CRA. I got married in 2011 and one season after having our first child my wife and I decided it was time to stop racing. I quickly turned to cross country mountain biking and racing in the summer and winter. That was hard because with little kids, I just didn’t have time to train.
In 2016 my friends, Jason Fox and Nick Hiney, eventually convinced me to go woods racing. I borrowed a bike from Nick’s girlfriend (thanks Lauren!) and tried that out. So, in 2017 I bought a YZ250X to go racing with them. I did the full D23 Hare Scramble season that year... my friends made it to a few races with me. I think it was the winter of 2019 I asked Jason, “Hey are you going to come to races with me this year?” and he said “Oh, we’re going Flat Track racing this year! The first race is at the State Fair Coliseum in 10 days.” I thought: hey, I want to do that with you guys! Jason told me that it was probably too late to pre-register for that race, I only had two days to do so, but that I should race the D23 season with them. I ended up registering for the races at the Coliseum and the following Tuesday I was driving to Illinois to buy my first Flat Track bike, a 2015 Husky FC450, and I’ve been loving racing Flat Track ever since! I’ve had a few different bikes over the last 4 years and now I’m racing a 2020 CRF 450 and a 1999 Harley Sportster.
Rob, you and Jason seem to be good friends on and off the track, how did this friendship start?
R: Jason and I met through mutual friends. I grew up in Superior, WI and met a lot of people from the cities while racing Karts. Jason was friends with some of the kids I grew up racing Karts with so our paths crossed a few times over the years. One winter while riding pit bikes at ProKart I noticed Jason was there and we started talking more and more. Jason is a great guy and I can’t thank him enough for pitting with me and going to races. We don’t drive together but normally try to caravan to and from races. He is also such a humble competitor and always so encouraging.
Jason, what’s it like being the 2x Jacks of Spade overall points champion? Those belts must get pretty heavy…
J: Talk about an ego builder! Winning that first championship belt really created a monster. Since then, I have won more than my share of races and interesting awards but that first belt will always be my favorite. I wore that thing everywhere for the next few months taking pictures and videos to prove it. I wore it to work meetings, my kids’ school drop off, the airport, grocery store, I even wore it on a scooter ride with my buddies. I also brought it to a few races to remind everyone who the champ was. Along the way I learned that you must keep your eye on that thing at all times. It has been stolen and recovered twice now. This year’s award was a rodeo style belt buckle which is also making its way around the world. Leading up to that championship there was a bunch of chatter about who was going to be the “new champion.” My name wasn’t mentioned by anyone besides my buddy Rob Pretts. That gave me just the motivation I needed and I shut them all out... winning all four races.
Rob, even though Jason has all these belts and trophies, you’re the 2023 overall points champion for D23 Flat Track. Thoughts? Feelings?
R: Jason races 3 classes and I run 4 so I have the opportunity to get more points than he does. I’ll tell you there were a few races this summer that I felt I may have had a little something for him but it never came to be. He beat me in almost every single race all season long. He may have fell down a race or 2 but he has been so fast the last 2 years. As for how do I feel about it… I feel great about it. If I can’t win, there’s no one else I’d rather see doing so well. I like to share in his excitement.
What was the highlight of your 2023 season?
R: I finished second overall in 3 classes and first in 1 class so it was a good year! And I guess I have the most points of anyone in Flat Track for the season, so that’s cool.
J: 2023 was the best results year I could ever dream of. 19 D23 wins and three championships. The highlight had to have been the Rampage by the River border battle race between D23 and D16. It was also one of the Grand National Hooligan Championship season races so there were fast hooligan racers from Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the four qualifying heats for the GNHC class Minnesota riders won all of them. I won mine of course, Lowell Bronstad won his, Cole Fealy won his and Rob Pretts won his. Then to top it off Minnesota riders swept the podium with Bronstad winning, Mac McGrew in second and me in third.
What are you looking forward to for the 2024 season?
R: Just another season of racing and seeing friends. I look forward to seeing some of the younger kids grow and get faster. I hope to learn and get faster too!
J: I’m looking forward to those first few races and see what happens after that. It will be fun to see how the hooligan class continues to grow. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the younger riders have improved over the winter and continued to pick up their pace. The first two race weekends of the year will be border battles with D16 so it will be great to see Minnesota riders do well at those.
Jason, you're the 2023 D23 Hooligan Champion, do you think you'll try to race in the Grand National Hooligan Championship series next year?
J: That is yet to be decided. I’ve been going back and forth on hanging up racing again. We are doing a couple of indoor races and I plan on racing at least a few of the first D23 races. One of those should be a Grand National Hooligan series race. If I get a good finish, I may see what we can do about doing the full series. However, if I win that race, I’m for sure calling it then and there. I have accomplished all of my racing goals except for one, which is to win one more big race and give my dad a victory lap with the checkered flag.
Rob, you seem to be a man of many talents... from road racing, flat track and off-road to four-wheel racing like go-karts. What discipline has been your favorite to compete in?
R: I’ve had success in all of my racing and I don’t know that I can say I have a favorite. They were all my favorite at the time I was doing them. Each have been a big part of my life, at least Karting, Road racing and now Flat Track. I will say one of my favorite things about all the different racing organizations I’ve joined is that the people have been the best part! Each group was like a big family, everyone always willing to help out the next person.
Who inspires you in racing?
J: My dad, 100% my dad. He is everything I strive to be in life. My kids also inspire me to do my best. They don’t come to watch the races yet, but they always ask how they went when I get home. My favorite is when I tell them I got a second or third and they respond with, “oh well, try harder next time.”
What's the best thing about Flat Track racing?
R: Again, I think the best thing about racing is the people.
J: The people! They are just the best group of people I have ever been around. I’m getting a little up there in age now, so I have been trying to do my part to give back but along my story of racing I have had so many people help me at the track. Lending sprockets, helping wrench on a bike when things aren’t going right, pointing out areas to improve on for technique, sharing gearing and tire pressure info and mainly giving me positive encouragement. Flat trackers are just the best. If you don’t believe me, come on out and see for yourself!
What advice would you give to the next generation of racers?
R: Just have fun and work on something every time you’re on track. Speed will come with time and try to not pick up bad habits. Always respect your parents and competitors. If you get mad, take 10 minutes before going over and talking to that person.
J: For the young guys, aim way higher than you think and make the girl laugh. It also helps if she cannot see very well… that worked for me. For the young ladies, you can do anything you put your mind to, beating the boys is well within your reach. For anyone considering racing the hooligan class in 2024, you don’t want none of this smoke! And for everyone else, stop by my pit for free stickers.
Anything else you guys would like to share?
R: I would just like to say I have a great, supportive wife and family. My 3 daughters and especially my wife sacrifice a lot to allow me to get away and do something I love, and I can’t thank them enough for their support and love! I’d also like to thank a big sponsor this season, Modern Flooring and Interiors INC.
J: Thank you to everyone involved in putting on motorcycle events within ARMCA. We are incredibly lucky to have such great supporters and volunteers. I recommend everyone spend at least one day working an event to see the enormous amount of time, effort, and sweat that goes into it all.
