For Niles native Austin Wagner, RedBud has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Being a family friend of the track owners, Wagner has been racing motocross since he was 5-years-old.

The 2014 Edwardsburg graduate will try to qualify for his third straight RedBud Nationals Saturday morning.

He is hoping that qualifying at RedBud Saturday will be a bit smoother than it was last year when he finished 43rd in his first attempt, but managed to survive in the last-chance qualifier and advance to the pro 450 Class motos.

He would end up finishing 35th overall.

“I need to get my head clear and get a fast lap in practice,” Wagner said. “Just trying to make it in is my biggest struggle right now.”

And what would it mean to Wagner to win a moto at RedBud in front of almost 100 of his family and friends?

“I think about it all the time,” he said. “It would be my dream to win here. It is a lot of hard work, but I think I could do it one day.”

Wagner, whose mother Lisa (Akin) was an outstanding motocross racer, says it still amazes him when he sees the number of fans that will show up this weekend at RedBud.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “On all of the circuits this is the most popular one I think. The most people show up.”

And what is the toughest part of the RedBud track?

“LaRacco’s Leap and that area is the hardest part,” he said. “You pretty much have to jump it if you want a good, fast lap.”