Morgantown, WV (8/7/2015) - After a long and competitive season filled with incredible racing and one of the most dramatic title fights in recent memory, the 2015 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing (ATVMX), will come to an exciting conclusion on Saturday afternoon. Fittingly, the host venue for this weekend's finale, on August 8, is a track known for building champions - Loretta Lynn's Ranch - and just 15 points sit between the top two in the AMA Pro ATV Class.

The AMA Pro ATV title fight comes down to 3x Defending Champion Chad Weienen (front) and Joel Hetrick (back)

The Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, facility has been the home of the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship for decades, and just last week the world's single-largest motocross event crowned 38 amateur national champions. Now it's time for the world's best ATVMX riders to take center stage at "The Ranch" for what is sure to be a thrilling showdown for the AMA Pro ATV title. 

Heading into Loretta Lynn's, only two riders have a shot a claiming the 2015 championship - Wienen Motorsports/Maxxis/SSi Decals/Walsh Race Craft Yamaha's Chad Wienen and Hetrick Racing/Corrosion Specialties Honda's Joel Hetrick. This dominant duo has won all but two races this season and they have amassed a stellar rivalry in their continued battle for the title. The final chapter of their season-long fight will be one of the most memorable moments in series history.

Joel Hetrick has enjoyed a breakout season, dominating the specialty award categories and is in the hunt for the 2015 Pro ATV Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's

As the reigning three-time champion, Wienen has an edge when it comes to experience. He's been in this position now for four consecutive years and knows better than anyone in the sport what it takes to win a title. However, throughout his dominant reign Wienen hasn't quite faced a challenge as stiff as the one Hetrick has put forth this season. Not only has Hetrick consistently been the fastest rider from round-to-round, he has more moto wins (10) than anyone else in the championship. Hetrick has been incredible in what has become a breakout season, and if not for a few heartbreaking moments this season, he very well could be the one atop the points heading into Loretta Lynn's.

Based on this season's results, the 15-point cushion Wienen enjoys should be enough to hold on to the points lead through to the final checkered flag. He hasn't finished worse than third in a single moto this season and even if Hetrick is able to post a 1-1 effort on Saturday afternoon, giving him a maximum of 50 points, Wienen needs to acquire just 36 points to ensure a fourth straight AMA Pro ATV title is his. The fewest points Wienen has earned at a single round of the championship this season is 44.

Thomas Brown has locked up third in the championship

Although history suggests that all the pressure is on Hetrick this Saturday to go out and win at all costs, it's the approach Hetrick has taken for most of the 2015 season. He's shown no intimidation in pushing his Honda to the limit, and that won't change this weekend. Instead the focus will be on Wienen to stay out of trouble and ride his own race, knowing he doesn't need to win in order to walk away as champion. While these two riders have been the class of the field virtually every round of the championship, this is still motocross and anything can happen once the gate drops.

In addition to the crowning of the 2015 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Champion at Loretta Lynn's, several other coveted distinctions are on the line. 

The ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier Award is a season-long battle to determine which rider walks away with a $1,000 bonus for laying down the quickest lap each weekend. Hetrick has been nothing short of dominant when it comes to qualifying, posting down the top time in eight of the 10 events this season.

Additionally, the SSi Decals Holeshot Award is a season-long fight for a $2,000 bonus. Once again Hetrick has been top dog in this fight, racking up 10 holeshots and 18 total points to go virtually untouched when it comes to getting a jump out of the gate.

No matter how the final championship points play out, there's little doubt that Hetrick has set a new standard for speed during the 2015 season.

Beyond the rider-to-rider battle for the title lies the all-important Manufacturers Cup, which determines the best competing brand for the 2015 season. Given the landscape of the results this season, it's no surprise that the manufacturer fight has come down to Honda and Yamaha. Only one point separates these two legendary brands and whichever comes out on top this Saturday will likely earn the coveted Manufacturers Cup.

The on-track action for Saturday's Loretta Lynn's ATV National kicks off at 11 a.m. CT / 12 Noon ETwith practice and qualifying. AMA Pro ATV motos get underway at 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET.

Previous Round Results

Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship
RedBud MX - Buchanan, Michigan
July 26, 2015
Round 9 of 10

AMA Pro ATV Overall Results (Moto Results)

1. Joel Hetrick, Seneca, Pa., Honda (2-1)
2. Chad Wienen, Galena, Ill., Yamaha (1-2)
3. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha (3-3)
4. Jeffrey Rastrelli, Palm City, Fla., Can-Am (5-4)
5. Ronnie Higgerson, Cuter, Ill., Honda (4-5)
6. Nicholas Gennusa, Wall Township, N.J., Yamaha (7-6)
7. Tyler Hamrick, Cortland, Ohio, Honda (8-8)
8. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, (6-10)
9. Brett Musick, Verdunville, W.Va., Yamaha (9-9)
10. Vital Cazenave, Union City, Tenn., Honda (15-7)

AMA Pro ATV Championship Standings

1. Chad Wienen, Galena, Ill., Yamaha - 432
2. Joel Hetrick, Seneca, Pa., Honda - 417
3. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha - 381
4. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda - 278
5. Jeffrey Rastrelli, Palm City, Fla., Can-Am - 276
6. Nick Gennusa, Wall, N.J., Yamaha - 268
7. Ronnie Higgerson, Cutler, Ill., Can-Am - 247
8. Vital Cazenave, Union City, Tenn., Honda - 202
9. Brett Musick, Verdunville, W.Va., Yamaha - 192
10. Tyler Hamrick, Cortland, Ohio, Honda - 191

Specialty Awards

ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier Award

1. Joel Hetrick - 8 points
2. Jeffrey Rastrelli - 1 point
3. Chad Wienen - 1 point 

SSi Decals Holeshot Championship 

1. Joel Hetrick - 18 points
2. John Natalie - 6 points
3. Josh Upperman - 3 points
4. Thomas Brown - 2 points
5. Casey Martin - 1 point
6. Chad Wienen - 1 point

For more information on the 2015 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, visit www.atvmotocross.com. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow on Twitter @ATVMXdotcom  and Instagram @ATVMotocross, and be sure to always hashtag #ATVMX.

About the Mtn. Dew AMA ATV Motocross Championship
The Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, sanctioned by AMA, is the nation's premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, hosted at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 10-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America's largest and longest-running ATV national motocross program. Since 1985, the series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while premiering the professional class.  For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.