The Pro Show Takes on Akron

Filed under General on July 06, 2022 | Comment(s)

From the 2020 Gold Cup Final to the 2022 Stars and Stripes Nationals, Akron BMX put in some serious work to bring the Pro Series back to the legendary Ohio track. The hard work during the rebuild and prep was worth every drop of sweat because the Stars and Stripes Nationals was a HIT.

Kicking off the weekend a day early, Akron BMX and the Box Car Derby Headquarters welcomed the Pro class to the top of Derby Downs for a fantastic night of box car racing. In a single-elimination bracket, these pros got competitive QUICK. Wanting certain cars on specific lanes, modifying their race helmets to be more aerodynamic, trash talking to their competitors, all while having a great time on top of the hill! As the bracket dwindled to the championship round, it was Rookie Pro Nick Adams taking top honors, with Smilin' Carly Kane coming in for a close second. With a night of fun in the books for these racers, the stage was set for two days of pro-action around Akron BMX.

Barry Dominates Vet Pro 

As the fan declared the "most entertaining class of 2022," Vet Pro came into the Stars and Stripes Nationals looking to live up to the hype, and that they did. With big names locking into the gate, Nobels, Upshaw, Falla, Swearingen, and Smith were just some of the names charging to the front of the pack.

Come main event time on Friday and Saturday; the 'Bama Slamma powered to the pull position leaving the pack to sort itself out. With Emilio Falla on the box both days, Leandro Da Silva and Jeff Upshaw constantly battled through motos and mains. The dark horse of the Vet Class was the Chromoly riding Supercross BMX racer Mikey Swearingen. Locking in a solid fifth and fourth place, Mikey was looking quick and smooth throughout both days of racing.

VET PRO FRIDAY : TOTAL RIDERS = 15 GROUPS = 6

• 1BARRY (ALABAMA SLAMMA) NOBLES, CHASE / BRGSTORE / FLY, STERRETT, AL
• 2EMILIO FALLA, BOMBSHELL, QUITO
• 3LEANDRO (PIRII) DA SILVA, PROPHECY BIKES, DELTONA, FL
• 4JOSH SMITH, DK BICYCLES/ NIRVANA CBD, SPRINGBORO, OH
• 5MIKE SWEARINGEN, SUPERCROSS BMX, AMELIA, OH
• 6DUSTIN (DUSTMAN) JACOBS, PROGATE, RIPT, TBONE, FREEPORT, IL
• 7JEFFERY UPSHAW, DRIVEN CYCLING ACADEMY, NAMPA, ID
• 8FABRICIO MATURANO, ARGENTINA, HOUSTON, TX

VET PRO SATURDAY : TOTAL RIDERS = 13 GROUPS = 6

• 1BARRY (ALABAMA SLAMMA) NOBLES, CHASE / BRGSTORE / FLY, STERRETT, AL
• 2JEFFERY UPSHAW, DRIVEN CYCLING ACADEMY, NAMPA, ID
• 3EMILIO FALLA, BOMBSHELL, QUITO
• 4MIKE SWEARINGEN, SUPERCROSS BMX, AMELIA, OH
• 5LEANDRO (PIRII) DA SILVA, PROPHECY BIKES, DELTONA, FL
• 6DUSTIN (DUSTMAN) JACOBS, PROGATE, RIPT, TBONE, FREEPORT, IL
• 7JOSH SMITH, DK BICYCLES/ NIRVANA CBD, SPRINGBORO, OH
• 8NIC LONG, RAMONA, CA
  

Great racers are often race fans themselves and it showed with the Vets as they rushed to the infield after each lap to watch the Women and Men Pro classes battle.

 The Ladies are Back to the Battles

2022 has not been friendly to our Women Pros. While the competitors in the Women Pro class came into the season as fast as ever, injuries have shaken up the class. That is until the Fourth of July weekend when the speedsters locked back into the gate with some returning powerhouses. Alise Willoughby, fresh off her two-for-two weekend in Nashville, came into the weekend charging and looking good in the process. Locking in two more wins on the season, "The Beast" had some fast competition close behind.

Ashley Verhagen came out swinging in Ohio after returning to the National Series, showcasing her killer first straight speed combined with her all-out mentality on the track. Still rocking her Fly Racing kit, Verhagen is a big pick-up for any sponsor as she continues to land on podiums this season. 

Speaking of podiums, Rachel Mydock, The Chandler Champ, had a breakout weekend showcasing all the work she has put in to become a front-of-the-pack contender. Joining Mydock in the front of the pack were National No. 1 Women Pro Felicia Stancil and USA Cycling National Champ Daleny Vaughn, Carly Kane, Olivia Armstrong, and Elida Beeman, making the Women Pro action heated throughout Friday's and Saturday's Mains.

WOMEN PRO FRIDAY : TOTAL RIDERS = 12 GROUPS = 6

• 1ALISE WILLOUGHBY, PROMAX/GW/TLD/TOYOTA, CHULA VISTA, CA
• 2RACHEL MYDOCK, REMIX BMX, PHOENIX, AZ
• 3FELICIA STANCIL, FACTORY SSQUARED, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
• 4DALENY VAUGHN, DK BIKES, TUCSON, AZ
• 5ELIDA BEEMAN, BOMBSHELL, LANSING, MI
• 6ASHLEY VERHAGEN, PHOENIX, AZ
• 7OLIVIA ARMSTRONG, FULL TILT/RADIO, BEND, OR
• 8CARLY KANE, DK BICYCLES, GUILFORD, IN

WOMEN PRO SATURDAY : TOTAL RIDERS = 11 GROUPS = 6

• 1ALISE WILLOUGHBY, PROMAX/GW/TLD/TOYOTA, CHULA VISTA, CA
• 2FELICIA STANCIL, FACTORY SSQUARED, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
• 3ASHLEY VERHAGEN, PHOENIX, AZ
• 4DALENY VAUGHN, DK BIKES, TUCSON, AZ
• 5CARLY KANE, DK BICYCLES, GUILFORD, IN
• 6OLIVIA ARMSTRONG, FULL TILT/RADIO, BEND, OR
• 7RACHEL MYDOCK, REMIX BMX, PHOENIX, AZ
• 8ELIDA BEEMAN, BOMBSHELL, LANSING, MI

Men Pro Lock in for Small Hill Racing

A long first straight combined with a tight and technical track had the Men Pro looking for every chance to dial in lines and find the front of the pack. For Corben Sharrah and Joshua Mclean, their bike skill and technical riding came into play as they each took home a win from Akron BMX. With the familiar names of the series crossing the Answer BMX Holeshot flags in a tight pack, a few specific names caught our eye. 

The first of those names was the Rookie, Nick Adams. Showing his place in the class back at Nashville, Adams had the first straight speed to mix it up with the top of the class out of Akron's first turn. Other waves being made throughout the weekend came with an Aussie accent. Izaac Kennedy, Kyle Hill, and Jack Davis all looked extremely strong around the track, with dialed-in first and second straights, allowing them to make passes and fast lines throughout the rest of the track.

With eagles screeching in the distance, American flags waving proudly, and fireworks waiting to be lit ablaze, Jeremey Smith, Jesse Weltch, and Joey Leto all turned it up a notch with killer laps after killer laps. Locking in second place on Friday, J-Smooth looked in perfect form in his home state, creating opportunities to pass and gain on the race leaders. USA Cycling U23 National Champion Jesse Weltch found himself behind his fellow sleeve-wearing American, Corben Sharrah, multiple times throughout the weekend, bringing the sleeves to the line on the one and two spots. The Men Pro Darkhorse, Joey Leto, charged with the front of the pack taking his Profile Racing "screaming eagles" to the A-Main on both days and is on track to make a BIG late-season push in the series.

MEN PRO FRIDAY : TOTAL RIDERS = 29 GROUPS = 12

• 1CORBEN SHARRAH, DAYLIGHT, TUCSON, AZ
• 2JEREMY (J-SMOOTH) SMITH, DKBICYCLES/HEMPFUSIONCBD, MYAKKA CITY, FL
• 3CAMERON WOOD, MONGOOSE BICYCLES, PEORIA, AZ
• 4IZAAC KENNEDY, SPEEDCO/AVIAN, BRISBANE, QLD
• 5NICHOLAS ADAMS, FACTORY RIFT TANGENT, ORANGEVALE, CA
• 6JOSHUA MCLEAN, FULL TILT/RADIO, PALM HARBOR, FL
• 7KYLE HILL, ROBINA, QLD
• 8JOSEPH LETO, STAYSTRONG & ROUTE, RAPID CITY, MI

MEN PRO SATURDAY : TOTAL RIDERS = 28 GROUPS = 12

• 1JOSHUA MCLEAN, FULL TILT/RADIO, PALM HARBOR, FL
• 2CAMERON WOOD, MONGOOSE BICYCLES, PEORIA, AZ
• 3IZAAC KENNEDY, SPEEDCO/AVIAN, BRISBANE, QLD
• 4JOSEPH LETO, STAYSTRONG & ROUTE, RAPID CITY, MI
• 5JEREMY (J-SMOOTH) SMITH, DKBICYCLES/HEMPFUSIONCBD, MYAKKA CITY, FL
• 6NICHOLAS ADAMS, FACTORY RIFT TANGENT, ORANGEVALE, CA
• 7KYLE HILL, ROBINA, QLD
• 8CORBEN SHARRAH, DAYLIGHT, TUCSON, AZ