Loretta Lynn's Countdown: The Sunshine State Shines

Florida also has some exceptional fast WMX racers, especially in this millennium, as Tallahassee’s Jessica Patterson (three LLMX titles), Deland’s Hannah Hodges (four), Deltona’s Jazzmyn Canfield (five), Mulberry’s Leah Cantrell (two), and St. Augustine’s Ashley Fiolek, Hudson’s Marisa Hampshire (RJ’s sister), Ormond Beach’s Serratia Gonzalez, and Ft. Pierce’s Kylie Fasnacht (one each) have all contributed to the Sunshine State’s title haul.

And there are some very fast vet riders that have had multiple successes at Loretta Lynn’s, including Tallahassee’s Early May (three titles), Jacksonville’s Alan Andreu (three), and a couple of names you might know for other roles in moto, namely Gatorback MX Park and Mini O’s race promoter Wynn Kern of Orlando, and X Games gold medalist Ronnie Renner of Floral City, both of whom have one title each.

But that’s not all for the Renner family as Ricky Renner won here twice as a kid on 65s and then came back to win Junior 25+ a couple more times.

Other recognizable Floridians who have won here include the ageless pro Kyle Chisholm of Seminole; 2009 Southwick 450 National winner and former pro Matt Georke of Lake Helen; Kissimmee’s Bryan Johnson; Orlando’s Paul Perebijnos, now working for Renthal; Deland’s Justin Starling, another longtime pro; Naples’ Paul Currie; and Miami’s Eddie Ray, the husband of Jessica Patterson, making them one of just a few husband/wife couples who have both won.

Other multi-title winners from the Sunshine State? Silver Springs’ Ian Trettel (four), Geneva’s Matt Boni (three), Largo’s Evan Ferry (two), and Fort Walton’s Mason Gonzales (two).

It’s worth pointing out that Florida would have nearly 20 more titles if not for the mid-career moves of St. Cloud’s Davi Millsaps, his 9 titles now all count for Cairo, Georgia, and Winter Park’s Kevin Foley, who’s 10 LLMX titles are credited to Orange, California, where he moved to pursue a career in the motorcycling industry.

And, in a few cases, we have had international riders signing up under the state they are in while competing in America, Italy’s Chiara Fontanesi is listed as being from Tallahassee and Hardy Munoz is from Chile, not Weston, Florida.

We mentioned RJ Hampshire above. He won two titles as an amateur as well as the AMA’s Nicky Hayden Horizon Award at the Ranch, which became a thing in 1997, and has gone on to win an AMA 250SX West Region Championship just this year. Other Horizon Award winners from Florida include Caden Braswell, who was awarded it in 2022 after three LLMX #1 plates; Jalek Swoll, who won in 2019 after six LLMX titles and is now a Triumph factory rider; and the great James Stewart (2001).

That’s the story of Florida at Loretta Lynn’s, one more state to go in the final Scott Sports Countdown to Loretta Lynn’s 2024. We’re guessing you have a pretty good idea of just who it’s going to be!