Brandon Clarke
Every year, Loretta’s gives us a matchup that feels inevitable.
This year, I’m calling my shot.
I think the battle for the 250 Pro Sport title is going to come down to Kade Johnson and Carson Wood.
At first glance, it feels like Kade has the advantage. He’s sixth all-time in the Vurb Prospect rankings with nearly 600,000 career points and a résumé that’s been built over years of racing at the highest level of amateur motocross. When you’ve won 189 races and spent years at the front, you’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.
But the deeper I dug into the Vurb Prospect numbers and comparing recent numbers the more I found myself looking at Carson.
The all-time rankings still favor Kade, but the 2026 rankings favor Carson.
Carson sits 63rd in the 2026 rankings while Kade sits 620th. Carson has nearly three times the points this season, more career wins, a higher win percentage, more podium finishes, more laps led, and a better average finish.
That’s not to take anything away from Kade. In fact, I think that’s what makes this matchup so fascinating.
Kade feels like the established benchmark. He’s been one of amateur motocross’ most consistent riders for years.
Carson feels like the rider who’s arriving at exactly the right time.
Despite only making 67 more career starts, Carson has won 284 races compared to Kade’s 189. That’s a career win percentage of nearly 30 percent, compared to just over 21 percent for Kade.
Meanwhile, Kade actually averages a better first-lap position, which tells me he’s putting himself in position early. Carson, however, seems to capitalize better once the race unfolds, working his way to the front before leading more laps and finishing stronger.
That’s why I think this has to become one of the bigger storylines of 250 Pro Sport.
Not because one rider is clearly better than the other.
Because one rider owns the résumé, while the other owns the momentum.
Loretta Lynn’s has a way of producing defining moments, and I have a feeling this class is headed for one.
So who takes it? Only time will tell. But what do you think? Well experience out perform momentum?
One thing is for certain. This is a battle I can’t wait to see play out in real time this week.
