Walking toward the SouthPoint Arena, to scope out the 700-foot long U-in-a-U short track, The Gambler passes by the green felt tables that are calling his name.
The clinks of coins hitting the metal bin signal yet another jackpot. Someone just broke even. But that’s not what he came here for this weekend. This early July weekend was all about winning of another sort; and spending time with friends and family.
The Las Vegas Nationals, much like its bigger brother the Silver Dollars, is always one of the biggest events of the year. Always a Full House! On Saturday, the race nearly hit the illustrious 300 moto mark, being only two motos shy at 298. Bigger turnout means more points toward those National Undefeated.
No.1 titles and NAG plates, i.e. do well here and it pays!
Throughout the weekend, there was so much action in the motos to the mains, it’s impossible to cover it all, so we’ve narrowed it down to the luckyseven best races of the weekend.
No.1: Coming into this weekend, coverboy Ronnie Kim’s current win-streak dated back to the 2017 Blue Grass Nationals, when he lost a main to Joshua Trerise. That means, that for the past 2 1/2 years, Ronnie has been unbeaten.
But don’t tell that to BMX Sharks’ Cedric Cade. After having come close to beating Ronnie in Bakersfield, Cedric finally pulled it off on Sunday - in front of his hometown crowd. The arena went wild!
No.2: The second best performance in Vegas? That would have to go to Elite’s Shane Harlow, who had a typically great, fun-filled weekend. In the end, he joined Danica Anderson in the almighty Triple club (winning all three mains, all three days). But it wasn’t an easy task. For one, he’d lost a bet and had to race in a womens bra. Secondly, he slid out in the last turn all by his lonesome, while wearing said bra, and had to hoof it across the finish line to win it. Not many riders have as much fun in BMX as Harlow.
This story is from the August 2019 edition of PULL Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2019 edition of PULL Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GOLD CUP NORTH CENTRAL
If there is one good thing about this year’s Covid closures of states and counties, it is that tracks that might not normally have gotten a shot at hosting a National or Gold Cup event, were now given that opportunity.
MID-AMERICA NATIONALS
2ND COMING USA BMX STOPS IN NEBRASKA ...AGAIN.
GOLD CUP SOUTHEAST
This year the DK Bicycles Gold Cup South East Finals were held at one of the fastest BMX tracks in Alabama - Circle City BMX, in Dothan. If trying to claim one of the coveted Gold Cup Plates brought you to Circle City BMX for your first time you might have been surprised when you first saw the track layout.
GOLD CUP SOUTHWEST
When you roll into the local Quiktrip and one of Tucson’s finest looks at your shirt and asks if you know Corben Sharrah, you can only be in one city in America. Often coined as the loudest city in BMX, it doesn’t matter if there is a single fan or a gaggle of Tucsonans, they know how to bring the energy.
GOLD CUP NORTHEAST
With all of the uncertainty in event planning this year, it was not a huge surprise that the DK Bicycles North East Gold Cup Finals shifted locations somewhat last minute. We were very lucky to have it and at a great location, Akron BMX in Akron, Ohio. The Big Red Truck was last here for the 2018 North East Gold Cup Finals, and the track is located in a pretty incredible location.
FALL CLASSIC NATIONALS
JUST OVER THE UTAH BORDER WE’D FIND THE WEST’S LAST STAND FOR 2020
DERBY CITY
It might not have been LaborDay, but the BMX world was anxious to finally return to the longtime Louisville tradition. ...and it was well worth the wait!
1998 HARO Monocque
“Captain America” ShowBike Custom painted by Troy Lee.
HOW TO GROW THE SPORT OF BMX RACING
Are you interested in starting a new track?
SECOND TIMES A CHARM
It just seems like yesterday that we were in Rock Hill for the Carolina Nationals and here we are again.
