BUCHANAN, Mich. -- When the gates fall, any act of courtesy is left behind. For motocross racers, a win at Red Bud is everything.

Around each corner, they're risking serious injury, all for a chance to finish first.

It's that competition that draws in folks from all over the country.

"It's a passion people have. I think it brings out the best in people when they can go out and work hard," Alex Harris, a fan from Ohio said.

This year, close to 30,000 people attended Red Bud.

Forty years ago -- the race was just a dream. Now, it's one of the largest racing spectacles in the country, and something die-hard fans can't go a year without seeing.

"Once you start racing, and it's in your blood, you can't just give it up," Michelle Monteleone, a motocross fan from Michigan, said.

That holds true for the racers as well.

Red Bud plays a key role in determining who takes home the Lucas Oil Championship.