Some times in life you have a yearning to do something out of the norm. An avid high school sports athlete and self admitted Dare Devil, Cory Acker stepped away from high school sports to pursue a dream that only a few understand. This 20 year old Shreve, Ohio resident is looking at taking the next step up in AMA ATV National Racing to the Pro Am Unlimited Class on his quick journey through the ranks. This week in Sight Lap we meet one of the up and comers in Amatuer ATV racing.
ATVMotocross.com: Hey Cory it looks like from the outside it is a pretty good year for you over all. How are things really going for you?
Cory Acker: The Open A Class has been really good this year. I have gotten three 1st and three 2nd place finishes and as far as I am concerned you can't beat that. I have had some bad luck in the Production A Class. I have had to run my practice bike all year and now I have finally gotten on my race bike and it looks like my luck may turn around a little bit. You have that though, it's just racing.
Photo By: ATVRiders.com
Corey Acker has only been racing for four years and is ready to step up.
This is my fourth year.
So how long have you been riding ATVs?
I got a 300EX when I was 13 but didn't race for a few years. When I was in high school I was big into sports. I was always pursuing that and then I finally started racing ATVs.
I assume you were one of the stars of the football team?
No actually I was a big soccer player. I was a four year letterman in soccer, a four year letterman in basketball, a three year letterman in track. I quit track my senior year of high school so I could pursue racing more.
Was it worth quitting track your senior year to go racing?
Yea! I didn't like track that much. My mom was the track coach and I was kind of forced to do it to stay in shape but racing was way better. It's a lot more fun and there is a great community of families out here and I have a lot of racing buddies and have just met a lot of people in general. It's been way better. I love it and won't ever regret it.
How did you get involved in ATV racing?
Well when we were kids I was always the wild one. We had go karts with 5 point harnesses and we would wreck them and roll them. I was always a little crazy I guess. So I eventually started jumping the 300EX. Then I was like "I want to start doing this." When I got old enough I got a 450 and I started racing.
Where was your first race?
It was at Malvern Motocross near Canton Ohio. It's located about an hour north from my house and I think I got 6th overall.
I know talking with you on the podium this season that you are a pretty busy person and it isn't centered around racing. What is it that keeps you so busy?
Yea we stay pretty busy with our farm and such. We are always working around the farm. I help my dad and he is really good about letting me go ride when I need to. We finally got my track back in at my house so I will be able to get back to work more on my riding and be ready for Ohio.
What kind of farming does your family do?
We grow crops and we also contract feed for dairy cow and steer farms. We also raise some beef of our own to butcher and sell. We do a lot of contracting with the farmers right in our area.
So being from a farm life I would assume you would have a pretty nice place for a track?
My dad gave me about five acres to build my track on. I have got a lot more room than that but the neighbors don't like the noise but they deal with it.
What kind of a track do you have?
It's actually more supercross style. I like big jumps and stuff so I have a lot of those and terrain changes. Right now we are building a set of whoops. It will have a little bit of everything and be a decent place to go throw down a couple of motos here and there.
Does anyone ride with you?
I have a couple of buddies around me like Tyler Hamrick and few others that come and ride. Now that I am getting the track back together we have a lot more people coming. Right before the Ohio National there will be a bunch of us there and that should be fun.
Photo By: Acker Family Photo
Corey and Kelsey Dyer enjoy time at the track.
Dating a fellow racer can have its difficulties at times. But it's really nice to date someone that loves to do the same thing you do. You don't ever have to argue on going to the races. It's also nice dating a fellow racer because I can help her and watch the lines she takes and when I'm riding with her try new lines that I wouldn't normally use to pressure her. So it helps me and Kelsey out a lot that we both race. We train as much as we can together. I went to Florida this past winter to spend New Year's with her and we did some riding at Pax Tracks. We live 600 miles apart so it has difficult moments because during racing season I only see her at nationals. It is hard to make it out there in between nationals and for her to come here because she works all the time. So we make the best of what we can. At least this year we got a national in my home state and it's not far from my house. So were planning hopefully get some riding in together in the next few weeks.
What are you hoping for the rest of the season and what are you planning for the future?
I am hoping I can wrap up my Open A Championship. The Production A Championship is "iffy" but like I said I have had some bad luck and I am thinking about dropping it and running Pro-Am Unlimited in Ohio if I can get my endurance up. I feel fine and I feel fast enough to run it I just have to get my endurance there.
I suppose you will use the move up as an opportunity sample the Pro-Am Division?
Yeah it will give a chance to get my feet wet and see where I need to be.
Photo By: ATVRiders.com
Corey and Kelsey talk racing strategy on the way to the line.
Not a problem. I have had a lot of help getting here and I would like to thank all those that have helped. Walsh Racecraft and my Mom and Dad along with my girlfriend Kelsey Dyer have been a big help. Also thanks to sponsors like Baldwin Motorsports, Maxxis, Rath Racing, Fox Shox, Riders Discount and John and Michelle Natalie for helping me out this past weekend. I would like to thank Tim Dettling for mechanicing, Pro Quad Performance and everybody else that supports me, it really helps a lot and it is appreciated.
