Brandon Clarke
It really stung deep when Ricky Carmichael said he hoped the New England Patriots would win the Super Bowl so the SMX Dirt Wurx track crew could “stay in their lane” and have the proper amount of time to build the track. As a lifelong Seattle Seahawks fan, that put a sour taste in my mouth.
“Come on, Ricky!” I shouted at the broadcast.
I’m a proud 12. Super Bowls are the pinnacle. To dismiss my team so casually just so the track crew could get their normal build window, felt selfish. Come on!
That said, I do have a few pals on the SMX build crew who, along with their team, work countless hours to bring this whole show to life. And yes, over the next few days they’ll be surviving on gallons of coffee, Red Bull’s and Monster’s.
Selfishly, I also thought this would give me an excuse to play tour guide and show them around my city. That didn’t quite work out.
But what did work out was a quick conversation with Alex Gillespie, owner of Dirt Wurx, the exclusive company responsible for designing and building Supercross tracks for SMX.
We caught up briefly right before the Seahawks celebration parade was about to kick off earlier this week. In that short window, before he put his head down and went into full grind mode, I learned a lot about what it takes to deliver an epic race in the Pacific Northwest.
But First! How Did We Get Here Anyway?
Traditionally, Supercross in Seattle lands near the end of March or early April. The weather is better. The series is deeper into the season. We’re usually coming back west after a long eastern swing.
It just makes sense.
But this year, this once-every-four-years soccer tournament called the World Cup threw a wrench into everything. This year’s World Cup events will be played in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Seattle had its number pulled to be one of the lucky cities to host several matches. Even though the World Cup doesn’t kick off until June, Lumen Field begins renovations months in advance. It transforms from Lumen Field into “Seattle Stadium,” forcing a shift in scheduling. That shift moved Supercross from its usual spring slot to this mid-winter date.
When the schedule was made, I’m sure not many people outside of myself and a few fellow 12s, thought the Seahawks would make the Super Bowl… let alone win it. But sitting here in my royal blue throwback, fresh off the parade, I knew. M.O.B. baby. You can look that up later!
The Parade, The Plywood, and the Pressure
When the Seahawks won 12 years ago, the parade ended at the stadium. So I originally assumed the track crew wouldn’t get in until late Wednesday night. Fortunately, this year the parade started at the stadium and headed downtown. That mattered.
Why? Because the stadium had already laid down a protective floor barrier. That saved the Dirt Wurx crew from installing an extra layer of plywood. Depending on the surface, the entire build process changes. This week? Turf. That requires two layers of plywood. Last week? Concrete. Dirt could go straight down.
Because of the Seahawks event, that first layer was already in place. That is a huge help for a crew that was already about 48 hours behind schedule when I spoke with Alex. And that delay doesn’t just affect Dirt Wurx. Everyone is in a holding pattern.
Camera crews can’t run cables. The massive LED tower, appropriately nicknamed “Goliath,” can’t go up. Timing, scoring, lighting, and broadcast infrastructure all depend on the track being finished first. Those structures go in after the dirt is shaped so skid steers, trucks, and loaders can still move freely.
This isn’t just about building jumps. It’s about building the foundation for the entire show. Tuff blocks and banners go in last, adding the final touches, which means everything else has to be done first.
More Than Just “Pushing Dirt”
You might think, “They’ll just power through it.” And yeah they will. They have to. But Dirt Wurx isn’t just following a blueprint, they’re responsible for making sure:
- Takeoffs and landings work
- Table on-offs are safe
- Multiple race lines exist
- Everything flows
- The track creates racing
Their build dictates how exciting the night is. This isn’t just pushing dirt around like some grown man’s Zen garden. This is engineering, creativity, and pressure on a ticking clock.
If anyone is up to it, it’s Alex and his crew, running on caffeine and commitment for the next 72 hours.
Why Not T-Mobile Park?
Every year, people ask: “Why don’t they just use T-Mobile Park?” It has a roof. No weather issues. No conflicts. Problem solved, right? Not even close.
Alex explained that people rarely think about the logistics. Are the tunnels big enough for trucks and loaders? Is there drive-through access? Can equipment move efficiently? Is there one way in and one way out? Every inch is planned. Even TV layouts.
When the last rider exits, can the next gate drop happen immediately? Does the camera angle maximize action? It’s all intentional.
I’ve also heard many rumors that T-Mobile doesn’t allow heavy equipment access or even have a way in for them. Which is why even big stadium concerts are held in the rain at Lumen Field. All speculation as the only non baseball event in the last decade to be there was the Winter Classic, a regular season NHL game played outdoors.
Other issues or logistics are things like the location of the paddock. Where are we going to put the pits? There are no large flat parking lots near the stadium. Parking has to be the number one frustration as a fan in Seattle, let alone, where are you going to place the teams?
At Lumen, they’re housed indoors in the WaMu Center, which is connected to the stadium. At T-Mobile? You’d have to cross several lanes of traffic and then the rider and mechanic would have to navigate the railroad tracks just to enter through a back door somewhere. If you were at San Francisco Supercross in 2024, you remember a similar labyrinth. In the rain. Absolute hell.
And finally, perhaps the real and likely the biggest reason: timing. The Mariners, Seattle’s MLB team, Opening Day usually lines up with Seattle Supercross. Two major events. One window. Something has to give.
Appreciation Where It’s Due
What a strange, perfect storm this year has been. Exciting for sure! The city of Seattle is riding high on a Super Bowl win and this weekend, hopefully, fans show up ready for Supercross, because this event doesn’t happen without sleepless nights, high stress, and full-on David Goggins-level commitment from the Dirt Wurx crew and everyone behind the scenes.
Rain or shine.
So when you’re in the stands this weekend, take a second. Look at the dirt. Look at the rhythm sections. Look at the flow. That’s not accidental. That’s passion, precision, and people who refuse to cut corners. And that deserves some serious respect.
Photos: octopi.media
