Brian Deegan to climb into stock car and 'march on NASCAR'

News item: Brian Deegan, a freestyle motocross legend who switched to off-road truck racing after cheating death once too often on his dirt bike (three times by his account), has decided to climb into a stock car and try to become a star NASCAR driver.

Reaction: If NASCAR was in need of fresh blood, consider Deegan a qualified donor. It's a logical next step for the married father of three, who apparently cannot shake his addiction to screaming engines and open-throttle competition. It'll be a boost for NASCAR because Deegan, as founder of the Metal Mulisha (a racing team and clothing/product brand), has a cult-like following and will deliver his hard-edged fans to stock car racing. Deegan will join the NTS Motorsports' driver development program with the hope of qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series circuit as soon as possible.

He said to reporters Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway: "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 the Metal Mulisha army is going to march on NASCAR."

Deegan will start off with in a Super Late Model race later this month at Irwindale Speeday in Southern California. He'll stick with late models until fall, when he hopes to move up to the Camping World West Series.

He said he'd do "whatever it takes" to make it onto the Sprint Cup Series circuit.

-- Pete Thomas