Music City BMX race report

Filed under General on May 29, 2022 | Comment(s)

In a survey of NAG Top-10 riders, Nashville's Music City BMX has consistently come out as a Top-2 Favorite on the USA BMX National circuit. The drag-strip first straight away with the traditional table-top makes this one of the fastest and furiously fun tracks in the nation!  

NASHVILLE's BIG PRO SHOW

After having a Euro-invasion for most of this year's Pro Series, this weekend would see the Pro class split up, as the first World Cup of the year was also taking place across the pond in Scotland. (How'd America do? ...don't ask.)  That meant that most of the Frenchies and Dutch riders would not be in Nashville, leaving this weekend's Music City podium mostly to Americans and a few loyal Aussies and South American imports. 

After battling injuries and sickness for most of this year, Alise The Beast is finally back to 100% and used Nashville to dust off any cob webs and shake off the rust. Points-wise, Mrs.Willoughby has some catchin' up to do to get close to Laura Smulders in the points-chase, but two big wins this weekend was a good start. By Saturday's main, Alise said she was feelin' almost back to normal. Sam Willoughby, Alise's coach and husband told us, "The title chase isn't over yet - what it always comes down to is winning the Grands."

WOMEN PRO - FRIDAY

• 1 ALISE WILLOUGHBY, PROMAX/GW/TLD/TOYOTA, CHULA VISTA, CA
• 2 OLIVIA ARMSTRONG, FULL TILT/RADIO, BEND, OR
• 3 DALENY VAUGHN, DK BIKES, TUCSON, AZ
• 4 MCKENZIE GAYHEART, FULL TILT/RADIO, FORT WHITE, FL
• 5 RACHEL MYDOCK, REMIX BMX, PHOENIX, AZ
• 6 EMILY HAYES, MAD CYCLES RACING, ROCK HILL, SC
• 7 SAMANTHA MILLER, RIVAL RACING, PITTSBURGH, PA
• 8 KAELI LIXANDRU, PROSTART/ FLY/ TANGENT, PHOENIX, AZ 

In the Mens class, Daylight's Corben Sharrah - with a fresh USAC sleeve on his arm, was looking like The Man to beat in qualifying - but you never want to count out Aussie Josh McLean or Alfredo Campo. The big story this weekend, was seeing the long-awaited "Elite" debut of Nick Adams. Tangent-Rift's rookie has hit up a few Pro Opens since Santa Clara, but this would be his first time up against the Best of the Best. Adams would finish fifth in his first Elite outing.

MEN PRO - FRIDAY

• 1 CORBEN SHARRAH, DAYLIGHT, TUCSON, AZ
• 2 JOSHUA MCLEAN, FULL TILT/RADIO, PALM HARBOR, FL
• 3 ALFREDO CAMPO, PRODUBANK, ALCAVI BIKES, CLERMONT, FL
• 4 JEREMY SMITH, DKBICYCLES/HEMPFUSIONCBD, MYAKKA CITY, FL
• 5 NICK ADAMS, RIFT TANGENT, ORANGEVALE, CA
• 6 CAMERON MOORE, SUPERCROSS BMX, CHAPEL HILL, NC
• 7 JESSE WELCH, BOX COMPONENTS, RIVERSIDE, CA
• 8 ZACHARY VANKAMMEN, PROGATE WORLD TEAM, LAKE ELSINORE, CA

MEN PRO - SATURDAY

• 1 JOSHUA MCLEAN, FULL TILT/RADIO, PALM HARBOR, FL
• 2 CAMERON MOORE, SUPERCROSS BMX, CHAPEL HILL, NC
• 3 CORBEN SHARRAH, DAYLIGHT, TUCSON, AZ
• 4 ZACHARY VANKAMMEN, PROGATE WORLD TEAM, LAKE ELSINORE, CA
• 5 ZACH JACOBS, CLAYBORN BICYCLES/ANSWER BMX, MT JULIET, TN
• 6 JEREMY SMITH, DKBICYCLES/HEMPFUSIONCBD, MYAKKA CITY, FL
• 7 NICK ADAMS, RIFT TANGENT, ORANGEVALE, CA
• 8 ALFREDO CAMPO, PRODUBANK, ALCAVI BIKES, CLERMONT, FL

 In Saturday's Mens final, Alfredo Camp was lookin' strong holding down second place behind McLean, but suddenly exploded entering turn two, which opened the door for the inside riders like SX's Cam Moore and Corben Sharrah to move into the podium positions. 

MAJOR COMEBACK

Jack of all Sports - "Major" Marshall Gehrke, returned to the USA BMX race circuit for the first time since last year's Music City Nats, and picked up right back where he'd last left off. Over the past year, Gerhke has been competing in USA BMX Freestyle Comps and playing a ton of basketball (among a long list of other activities). Inbetween being out front of races in Nashville, Marshall was up to his usual antics - throwing down style points and doing 360's whenever he could. Then on Friday, he went on to win 15-16 X-Open, as if it was nuthin but a slam-dunk.

Word has it that the next cycing discipline he is chasing after will be Pump Track competition, coming up soon.  ...and just like anything this Kid tries, we're sure he'll Rule at that as well. 

15-16 OPEN - FRIDAY

• 1 MARSHALL GEHRKE, ANSWER, ANTIOCH, IL
• 2 WYATT WORTH, BMX SHARKS, COALINGA, CA
• 3 MATTHEW WEERTS, JW BICYCLE PRODUCTS, HAMILTON, OH
• 4 JACK EASTMAN, GREENVILLE, MI
• 5 MATTHEW BREWER, DAYLIGHT, EAGLEVILLE, TN
• 6 CHEVY HOFFMAN, ARKLAHOMA SSQUARED, WICHITA, KS
• 7 JOHN ALDEN II, ALBE'S BIKE SHOP, PEACHTREE CITY, GA
• 8 ZACK DRINKARD, VELOCITY BIKE CO, MECHANICSVILLE, VA

CRUISER CRAZE 

The 24" ranks in Nashville saw some  some intense racing, from motos to mains. The largest cruiser classes of the weekend - as expected, were 8 and 9 cruiser, loaded with 22 rider points on the line. 

Surprisingly, defending National No.1 Cruiser rider Greyson Sneed scored a 4th on Friday, but came back for a 2nd on Day 2. The "other" Grayson (spelled with an "A") - Novak, ruled the 8 cruiser ranks with wins all three days.  

8 CRUISER -SATURDAY

• 1 GRAYSON NOVAK, ALBE'S BIKE SHOP, LAS VEGAS , NV
• 2 RYDER JOHNSON, JBR, EUNICE, LA
• 3 REID AUTRY, PHYRE, GALLATIN, TN
• 4 LIAM CANIDA, SSQUARED FLORIDA, RIVERVIEW, FL
• 5 BRYSON BRUNS, S SQUARED, BALTIC, CT
• 6 GAVIN SMITH, MOM & DAD, LAFAYETTE, IN
• 7 CARSON BURKHOLDER, MOM & DAD, NORWICH, NY
• 8 MARSHALL FALKOWSKI, BLACK WIDOW, SAINT PAUL, MN

9 CRUISER - SATURDAY

• 1 JAXSYN HORNE, PROFILE EXTREME, JACKSONVILLE, FL
• 2 GREYSON SNEED, CLAYBORN BICYCLES/ANSWER BMX, BAKERSFIELD, CA
• 3 BRAXTON CHANDLER, ARKLAHOMA SSQUARED, SPRINGDALE, AR
• 4 JAXSON HOWELL, FULL TILT/RADIO, HENDERSON, NV
• 5 JACKSON SCOGGINS, MEMPHIS, TN
• 6 ASHTON HESTER, SEAN CARVAJAL'S LDC, HEATH, TX
• 7 JACKSON STAUFFER, BLACK WIDOW BMX, CANNON FALLS, MN 
• 8 KENJI GOTO, POWER FX SPEEDCO, TAMPA, FL

 In 10 and 11 year old cruiser, Minnestoa's Theisen Brothers were cookin' and bookin' it on their 24's. Younger bro Jacob kicked it off with a 10 cruiser win, followed by his older bro Lucas winning the next main - both making sponsor Black Widow proud. 

In 14 cruiser, Daylight's dynamic duo of "The Chef" and "Scooby Snacks" battled it out for the top two spots - as they often do. It's a toss up over which one will take the win, and who'll finish second. On Friday, it was Brady O'Neal and then just to switch things up, on Saturday the win went to Clay Sheffield. Two team mates who leave it all on the track and then go back to the pits and hang out together is a rare find in any sport.
It's safe to say that Daylight owns the pink slip in 14cruiser.   

14 CRUISER - SATURDAY

• 1 CLAY "THE CHEF" SHEFFIELD, DAYLIGHT CYCLES, LAKE CLARKE SHORES, FL
• 2 BRADY "SCOOBY SNACKS" ONEIL, DAYLIGHT, HENDERSON, NV
• 3 CJ "KAMIKAZE KID" CARIASO, BIOLAB-BOX-RACE, INC., TUCSON, AZ
• 4 RJ HANCOCK, ROCKET RACING, MOSELEY, VA
• 5 ESCHER CHARTIER, SSQUARED NEW ENGLAND, NEW BEDFORD, MA
• 6 COOPER JACKSON, 2NDGENBMX, CARTHAGE, MO
• 7 KELAN  SKINNER, REGGIE'S BIKE SHOP, GOWEN, MI
• 8 GRANT SCHMIDT, BLUEGRASS SSQUARED, FORT WRIGHT, KY

GIRL GO-GETTERS

The girl classes at this year's Music City Nats was exciting as all get-out, and there were plenty of stand-out performances throughout the three days of racing. By far, the fastest femme fatale was none other than your reigning National No.1 Girl Ava Corley - who at the current rate of wins, could easily repaeat her No.1 title this November. Ava simply OWNS this class right now, winning all three days with a half-a-straight lead!

Another girl dominator who scored three first place trophy slips was Albe's Alexis Alden in 14 girls. This would be her last wins as a 14 year old, since her 15th birthday was on the next Mondfay. She had some good comp all weekend from Bay Area's Nicole Foranda. 

14 GIRLS EXPERT - FRIDAY

• 1 ALEXIS ALDEN, ALBE'S BIKE SHOP, PEACHTREE CITY, GA
• 2 NICOLE FORONDA, FACTORY BABS, MEDELLIN
• 3 TRISTIN  PINGITORE, POWERLITE/DFR, PEORIA, AZ
• 4 EMMA CAVNER, ROCKFORD, MI
• 5 SAMANTHA WILLIAMSON, CLAYBORN/ANSWER BMX, GROVETOWN, GA
• 6 SADIE HERRERA, FULL TILT/RADIO, ACWORTH, GA 
• 7 HANNAH GISH, S SQUARED - INDIANA, VALPARAISO, IN
• 8 KAMRYN SWAN, REGGIE'S BIKE SHOP, TOLEDO, OH

 Tangent-Rift's Breanna Winter also had a decent weekend, scoring 17-20 womens wins on Friday and Saturday. 

FAST TIMES

With Saturday's moto-count just being 2-shy from the 300 mark, there were plenty of hot-laps being tabulated by te SQORZ timing system. Here are your top finishers from Sunday's action:

THE DRAG STRIP

When all is said and done, Nashville ROCKS. An awesome facility where BMX teams and families and kick back and relax under the surrounding shade of tree, or park their motorhome side the waterfront lake, the Music City Memorial Day tradition is always a good time. 

When you think about it - Nashville's Drag Strip, with eight riders side-by-side, blasting out of the start when the christmas tree flashes green, is waaaaaay more exciting than your typical NHRA drag race. In fact, with NHRA adding more "Four-Wide" events to their schedule, one might even think that they're trying hard to be more like The Greatest Family Sport in the Nation ... BMX!