Remember Jesse Wentland? We do! In fact, we remember him well. After becoming an 85cc 12-13 standout throughout last season, many were whispering the young Minnesotan's name amongst the best 85 riders in the country. However, fast-forward one year and you will hear little conversation fluttering the pits about Jesse Wentland. A broken leg on Amateur day at Millville last year put him out for the summer, but a re-break of the same leg while training with Ty Worthington in Kansas resulted in him sitting out every national of the 2008 season thus far. Until now, that is.

Jesse is gearing up to head south for his first national since last year's Loretta Lynn's race and is extremely optimistic of his chances. True, he's been out of competition for much of the last year, but he has a few things working in his favor, one of which is a Loretta Lynn's replica track in his back yard...need we say more. As an older 12-13 rider, who will soon be ditching his 85s in order to ride schoolboy next season, Jesse will be looking to improve on his 8^th place finish in the 12-13 class last year. He wants to stand atop the podium this year, and despite a few set backs, feels strongly that he is capable of doing so.

Jesse, what up, bud? We haven't seen you since last year at Loretta's. What's been going on?
I broke my leg on amateur day at Millville last year. It was the first time I had ever broken a bone. I started riding again in October and ended up breaking it again in January in Kansas City while riding with [Ty] Worthington. I just started riding about three months ago.

So you broke the same bone, in the same leg?
Yeah, the first time it was the tibia and fibula and the second time it was just the fibula.

You haven't raced a national since Loretta's in 2007. Take us back to that week.
My best overall was an 8^th in the 12-13 Stock class.

What are your feelings heading back into Loretta's? Do you feel as if you will be able to jump back in and run the pace of the top ten?
Yeah, I hope I'm fast enough and am in shape enough to run a 20 minute moto at Loretta's. My goal right now is to hopefully take top three.

I heard that you guys have a track with pretty much the same layout as Loretta's?
Yeah, it's pretty close to Loretta's, except that it's sand. So it gets a little bit rougher. It's got the Ten Commandments and the six pack, though, so it's pretty cool. It should definitely help my lap times.

Sounds good. Thanks for the chat. We'll be looking for you in a few weeks.
Thanks see you guys there.