Axtion

Edition 003, July 2010.

Ever since I heard that Brian Deegan was interested in NASCAR, I wanted to talk to him. It’s the one sport that I follow religiously. I once dreamed of driving in the Sprint Cup myself. Obviously it never happened. Why? Because it requires patience and a lot of hard work. Deegan (an admitted overachiever) is a man addicted to hard work, but acknowledges that he’s not very patient. A combination that works well in the Motocross and Off Road arenas, but just doesn’t translate to NASCAR. Supercross and freestyle motocross riders have had mixed results in NASCAR. Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson raced motocross and off-road trucks before moving to NASCAR. Ricky Carmichael has spent the last few years getting adjusted to the sport through racing in the Truck Series and all signs indicate that he will hit the Nationwide Series as early as next year. Other motorcycle stars such as Jeremy McGrath have tested the waters but haven’t made much progress.

No one should questions Deegan’s drive. He developed a passion for racing at a young age. Growing up in a small town in Nebraska, Brian found that he loved riding dirt bikes. He soon realized he had a talent and wanted to pursue his dream. After graduating from High School, he told his father to give him one year and if it didn't work out then he would come back home and go to college.

With his dreams in front of him and Nebraska in the dust, he headed for California with a credit card, an old truck and his dirt bike. Turning pro at age 17, Brian rode his way onto a Supercross Team. In 1997 at the LA Coliseum, he won the 125cc main and in true rebel fashion, ghost rode his bike across the finish line. This was the beginning of what we know today as Freestyle Motocross (FMX). Brian founded a group called the Metal Mulisha (a motley crew of hardcore rebels) and despite numerous broken bones and almost dying three separate times, went on to win 10 X
Games medals. In his most recent near-death experience, Brian lost a kidney and severely injured his spleen while filming for MTV's Viva La Bam. Today FMX is recognized across the world as one of the premiere events in X Games.

As a precursor to his move into NASCAR, Brian formed the Rockstar Energy/Metal Mulisha/Lucas Oil short course off-road truck racing team. He won the championship in 2009 and has already earned two wins in 2010. This year he joined the NTS Motorsports Team as part of a two-car program that NTS fields, along with current driver Brennan Newberry. The team’s objective is to move through the ranks of NASCAR to Sprint Cup as quickly as possible.

Deegan, as usual, was very open about his view of this opportunity. "When NASCAR chairman Brian France told the world that NASCAR is a contact sport, we're going to loosen it up, I'm not sure Mr. France knew what he was getting into. I took that as a personal invitation for guys like me. I love racing, I love going fast, I love pushing the limit and that's what I'm going to bring to NASCAR. I have been designated as the General of the Metal Mulisha and so the Metal Mulisha army is going to march on NASCAR," Deegan said. He went on to say “I’m thinking a 2- to 3-year plan [to a NASCAR national series], is realistic. If I’m ready before, I go. If it takes a little more time, it takes time. I still ride dirt bikes. I still do X-games. I still do short-course [trucks]. I have a pretty full schedule.”

Motorsports Team Owner Bob Newberry commented, "Brian is a winner and is going to bring the same commitment and passion that took him to the top of Motocross and the X Games world to our racing program. We are similarly committed to putting Brian in world class equipment, getting him the seat time to ensure his success, and moving him through our development process to Sprint Cup, period." After his NASCAR debut in the Pepsi Super Late Models Race at Irwindale Speedway recently he was visibly tired. He found the race to be long and arduous. “You can’t just charge to the front like I’m used to. I felt like I needed more power.” In this series they run “spec” motors, which limits them to about 700hp. Very different than the off-road vehicles that he has grown accustom to. “It’s all about consistently hitting your marks. I learned a lot today. This is going to be challenging. I need to learn patience.” The words patience and Deegan aren’t normally mentioned in the same sentence. His reputation was built on the hardcore lifestyle that he became infamous for, but let me assure you that being “hardcore” means something very different to Brian these days. After the birth of his daughter he realized that fighting and getting arrested just wasn’t going to work any longer. Like myself and many other’s he chose to become a good father. Now, as a Christian he lives by different values. “Being hardcore doesn’t mean partying to me anymore. It means doing a backflip 360. I have redirected my energy toward my family and making Metal Mulisha the most dominate brand in the action sports world.”

So, do I think that Deegan can make it to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the short amount of time he is hoping? Of course he can! He brings sponsorship, a history of winning and legions of fans. The question is, is NASCAR ready for Brian Deegan! All I ask is when you do make it, please leave a little space on that Metal Mulisha Hot Rod for an Axtion Magazine Sticker bro.