- April 24, 2024
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Dawson “The Landshark” Stark, 14, has only been a motocross racer for three years, but already his trophy case is getting pretty crowded.
BY MIKE CAVALIERE | ASSOCIATE EDITOR
At 14 years old and having only been a motocross racer for the past three years, most of the guys Dawson Stark competes against are older and more experienced. But that doesn’t seem to bother him.
The past two months, Stark has competed in races throughout Florida and Georgia, taking home two first-place wins at Georgia’s Thunder Under the Lights race, two first-place wins at the Monster Energy Cup night race and a fourth-place win in the National Qualifier Series, in addition to taking an overall championship at the Florida-Georgia Ever Rev Series.
Oh, and he’s also taking honors classes. He started high school this week at Deland High.
"I don't pay attention to anything else when I am racing,” Stark said, adding that he feels “relaxed and confident” as he flies 100 feet through the air on his dirt bike. “When you’re going that fast, you can't second-guess. You just commit.”
Lifelong Florida natives, Stark’s family runs Dick Stark Carpet One Floor & Home, at 570 S. Yonge St. Their home is in the “country” of western Ormond, and even though Stark’s dad says motocross has always “scared the crap out of” him, the family has had ATVs, which initially piqued Dawson’s interest in launching wheeled vehicles off the ground.
“When he got his first dirt bike, I knew we were in for it,” David Stark said. “He excelled quickly and wanted to race immediately. I was sick to my stomach, but my wife said we should embrace his passion.”
So Dawson’s dad began doubling as his trainer.
“Teaching him how to be cool under pressure but then turning around and yelling at him like a coach is tricky,” he said. “But being dad, I have to hold back from running out on the track when he goes down. … He has gotten up from some real heart-stopper crashes and pulled off some spectacular saves.”
And it’s those heart-stoppers that keep certain members of Dawson’s family, like grandparents Dick and Sue (known to him as Granddaddy and Memaw), away from the track.
“Granddaddy says it hurts his heart,” David Stark said. “Memaw is the thrill-seeker, and even she says it’s just too much to watch.”
Dawson’s other grandfather, “Pop-pop,” however, has been at every race since the beginning.
“Pop-pop loves to blow his whistle, scream and shout and walk and talk with everyone,” David Stark said.
Refered to as “the landshark” by one race announcer, Dawson says that the start of every race, when the riders are all lined up elbow to elbow, each one gunning to be the first to the corner, is one of the most crucial parts of motocross.
“He is blessed with being an exceptional starter,” David Stark said. “The announcer … constantly reminds the other races, ‘The landshark is coming for you!’ ”
After high school, Dawson hopes to race professionally in Europe. And although most top-level racers have been riding since they were 4 years old, David Stark says, Dawson’s late start doesn’t seem to be affecting him. “I know how talented Dawson really is.”
“He turns into a totally different person when he turns that throttle,” Stark added. “The older he gets, the less we say. But I still give him the pat on the back, and a thousand words run through my head as I wink at him.”
