Brian Deegan
Hometown Omaha, NE Years Competing 16
Nicknames The General
Team Deegan Motor Sports
Discipline Off-Road Truck Racing - Pro 2 and Pro Lite, Rally Car, FMX
Honors 13 total X Games medals including 4 Gold 2011: Dirt Sports Short Course Driver of the Year 2011, LOORRS Pro 2 Champion, LOORRS Pro 2 Rookie of the Year, LOORS Pro Lite Champion, LOORRS Driver of the Year, X Games Rallycross Gold, Race of Champion Team USA, Ellismania 7 Celebrity winner defeating Dave Mirra, 2010: LOORRS Driver of the Year, X Games Rally & Super Rally Silver, 2009: LOORRS Pro Lite Champion, LOORRS Driver of the Year
How does FOX contribute to your success?
In short course racing its all about truck setup. With FOX and the support that I get from their factory techs at the track I'm always battling for a win.
Tell us about your best race or event and how it changed you.
Winning X Games Rallycross last year may have been the best race of my career. I had my sights set on it after winning silver the year before and the team and I were really focused. I had a rough time in the Rally event the day before, so it was a challenging day. I drove really well that day and it was incredible to see determination and hard work pay off!
Tell us about your bike/vehicle setup.
I really try to attack the track so I run a stiffer setup than most. I also use a larger 1 1/8 inch shock shaft in the rear bypass shocks so that when I?m banging doors I don?t have to worry about bending one.
What else is in your garage?
I have a lot of bikes on display in the garage at the Mulisha Compound. Bikes from some of my favorite moments, X Games wins, other legendary riders, and some that have been custom painted for me by Jesse James!
Any major injuries, and how did you recover?
I've broken my hip, snapped my humerus in half and broken my wrists five times. I've compressed a vertebra in my back and blew up my kidney doing a backflip for the MTV show Viva La Bam. Recovery from life threatening injuries is very difficult. In the end, I’m still competing because it's what I love to do! I keep in top physical shape and eat a very healthy diet to stay strong.
How do you determine which races or events to enter each year?
I race as much as I can - it's what I love to do. This year I am racing the LOORRS Pro Lite and Pro 2 classes, racing Rally Cars, and riding my dirt bike when I can!
What would you be doing if you weren't a professional athlete?
Running businesses and spending as much time as I can with my family.
What other sports are you interested in?
MMA and Boxing
Any advice to the readers dreaming to turn pro?
Stick by your family and your values. Surround yourself with people you trust. One key to my success has been having a good team around me. Take chances. I took a lot of chances during my career, and been fortunate enough that some of them ended up successful - lots of others failed and you never know until you try!
