We are now just a day away from the biggest motocross race in the nation.

The 36th annual RedBud National is Saturday in Buchanan Michigan.

The event has grown so large it will now be broadcasted live on NBC.

The RedBud National always goes off on the 4th of July weekend -- traditionally on Sunday -- with the professionals participating in practices and qualifying on Saturday.

This year, everything is grouped into one big day on Saturday in terms of the pros. With more than 25,000 fans expected for the race, the question is whether fewer people will be in town for the full weekend or not.

There are still plenty of other events, like fan fests and amateur races that go from Thursday through Sunday, but there is no clear indication of what effect things will have on the estimated four to five million dollars this event generally brings into the entire Michiana community.

"I don't know really," Red Bud owner Amy Ritchie says. "I also wonder if more people will come because they don't have to take Monday off if they have farther to drive, because they can spend the night and take a leisurely drive home on Sunday."

"So far there are more people here than there was last year on Thursday, so I guess the more the better."

The RedBud race has been in the family for decades, but only now it is enjoying a national audience.

"My parents started this. We are in our 36th year of pro motocross. It grows every year," Ritchie explains. "It's unbelievable that this will be the 2nd ever motocross event live on network television. It will be live on channel 16 Saturday at 3:30."

"Of course, everything that is out here has evolved and grown into this week-long festival event on the fourth with two nights of fireworks and all these campers. It's kind of taken on a life of its own. It's just got a cool vibe to it, and everybody's into it this year," Ritchie adds.

There will also be some added attractions for Saturday's events. At intermission between the races, there will be a special celebration exhibition race between some all-time greats.

8-time outdoor champion Ricky Carmichael, who retired in 2007 and is now a member of the NASCAR truck series, will be back to dazzle the crowd.

One of his competitors will be 3-time outdoor champion--Jeff Stanton--a Michigan native who has been retired since 1994.

Stanton was up at RedBud on Thursday practicing.

"It will be awesome," Stanton says. "The older I get the better I once was if you know what I mean. You have to be smart and go out and have fun, but not think I'm 20 years old and can everything out on the track."

Stanton is now a consultant for AMA and has been going to RedBud since he was four years old. He says it's amazing how much the event has grown and he's very excited to be a part of it again.

Single day tickets for Saturday are $35 for adults and $15 for kids.

The schedule for Saturday is as follows:

6:00AM---Gates Open
8:30AM – 11:20AM---Practice and Qualifying for 450 and 250 races.
12:30PM – 12:50PM---Opening Ceremonies
1:00PM – 1:35PM---450 Class Moto #1
2:00PM – 2:35PM---250 Class Moto #1
2:50PM – 3:05PM---FMF 2 Stroke Race (Celebrity Race)
3:42PM – 4:20PM---450 Class Moto #2 – LIVE ON NBC
4:45PM – 5:20PM---250 Class Moto #2