NILES — It has been a summer of frustration for Edwardsburg graduate Austin Wagner as he continues to chase his motocross dreams.

After missing out on qualifying for the RedBud National in July at his home track in Buchanan, Wagner has been working hard in practice, but not seeing the results on the track,

He just missed qualifying for the main race at the Unadilla National when he fell during the final lap and went from a qualifying position in the Last Chance Qualifier to finishing eighth and heading home.

But with two of his favorite tracks coming up this weekend and next, Wagner is hoping his fortunes will turn around.

Due to a busy work schedule, Wagner did not go to the Spring Creek National in Millville, Minnesota.

“I had barely been on the bike, so I decided not to go that weekend [Millville], and that Friday I was watching the weather, and it started to downpour, so it ended up being a mud race,” Wagner said. “I wish I had gone because I do really well in the mud. Last year, I finished 14th overall in the Ironman in the mud.”

At the Unadilla National in New Berlin, New York, Wagner continued to have issues in the practice sessions.

“I struggled in my first practice,” he said. “My second practice, I felt a lot better and just out of a rut and went cartwheeling and hit my head. So, I had to the LCQ and almost pulled the holeshot. I was in a qualifying spot until the very last lap when I tipped over in a corner and three guys passed me, so I finished eighth overall.”

Wagner said he needs to figure out how to transfer how he rides in races to the practice sessions.

“I wish I could practice how I race,” he said. “My lap times in the LCQ were almost good enough to make it straight through to the race. That is what I have been working on. I am working on my sprints so that I can get a good, fast lap in.”

Thursday afternoon, Wagner was packing up and headed to Mechanicsville, Maryland to try and qualify for the Budds Creek National where he has also performed well in the past.

Wagner is hoping to perform well at Budds Creek to set him up for another good run at the Ironman National Aug. 24.

“I made it there three times, including the last two years,” Wagner said about qualifying for the main race at Crawfordsville, Indiana. “The dirt is really good there. It is not hard-packed, and it is not super soft. It ruts up good, and it just reminds me of riding at home. I wish every track felt like that for me.”

He also likes how Budds Creek is set up.

“I really like this track that we are going to,” Wagner said. “It has a lot of elevation changes, and it is really fun.”