Ricky Carmichael

Richard "Ricky" Carmichael (born November 27, 1979) is an American former professional motocross and stock car racing driver. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1997 to 2007 and in NASCAR from 2008 to 2011. Carmichael is notable for winning the AMA 450cc motocross national championship seven times and, the AMA Supercross Championship 450cc class five times. His unrivaled successes in the sport of motocross have given him the nickname "The GOAT"; standing for Greatest of All Time.[1]

Ricky Carmichael
Carmichael at Daytona International Speedway in 2020
Born (1979-11-27) November 27, 1979
Clearwater, Florida
Achievements7x AMA Motocross 450cc champion
5x AMA Supercross 450cc champion
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
8 races run over 2 years
2011 position113th
Best finish84th (2010)
First race2010 Kansas Lottery 300 (Kansas)
Last race2011 Wypall 200 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
68 races run over 3 years
2011 position16th
Best finish13th (2010)
First race2008 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
Last race2011 Ford 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 18 1
Statistics current as of June 13, 2020.

His NASCAR career began with him competing full-time in the East Series in 2008 for Ken Schrader Racing, as well as part-time in what is now the ARCA Menards Series for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. He drove in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time for three years, first with KHI for most of his rookie season in 2009, and then the rest of his time there with Turner Motorsports. He also made select starts in what is now the Xfinity Series as well as ARCA for Turner in 2010 and 2011.

Racing career

Motocross/supercross career

After a dominant amateur career, Carmichael made his pro debut for the (Splitfire Pro Circuit) Kawasaki team in 1997. He was fast but erratic in Supercross; winning several main events. Crashes and inconsistency cost him the title to Suzuki's Tim Ferry. Outdoors, Carmichael was much more in his element, and he beat defending champion Steve Lamson for the win at the first round. Carmichael was very dominant and won the overall title in his rookie year.

He more than made amends for his rookie-season loss in Supercross by winning all 8 main events of the 1998 125cc East Region. He won the East/West shootout as well. Outdoors, he defended his title easily despite early challenges from Lamson, John Dowd, and Mike Brown.

Carmichael jumped to the 250 class for Supercross in 1999 with the Factory Kawasaki team. It started off reasonably well with some top 5 finishes, but had a violent crash in the early rounds and was forced to take time off. The rest of the year was filled with crashes and disappointing results and Carmichael failed to finish in the top 10 overall. He raced 125 outdoors once again with Pro Circuit, and again dominated that series for his third title in a row.

In 2000, Carmichael jumped to the 250 class full-time. He was much more consistent this year with regular top 5 finishes, including his first win at Daytona. He finished 5th overall behind eventual champion Jeremy McGrath; the latter's final title. Outdoors, Carmichael had no such trouble adapting the bigger bike and was the class of the field. He had some close battles with Sebastien Tortelli, but ended up winning the 250 National Championship in his first try.

By 2001, Carmichael had showed a new commitment to his fitness and preparation. After some early series battles with McGrath, Carmichael took a chokehold of the points lead and won 13 out of 15 Supercross races as well as the championship. After another battle with Tortelli and Kevin Windham outdoors, Carmichael won that title again as well.

Carmichael switched to Honda for 2002. He suffered a horrendous endo at round one of Supercross; earning no points. He mounted a furious comeback by winning 11 races from 16 and the title over David Vuillemin.

Carmichael accomplished something that year previously thought impossible. He won all 24 motos of the 2002 National season.

2003–2007
Carmichael in 2007
Carmichael receiving a Key to the City of Morgantown, West Virginia ("Moto-Town") in 2007

In 2003, Carmichael won both Supercross and National titles again; winning 7 races indoors where he faced a stiff challenge from Chad Reed. He won the National title again with a 9 race wins over Windham.

In 2004, Carmichael was injured for the Supercross season, he had a knee injury (torn ligaments/meniscus) but came back for the Motocross season to record his second perfect season; winning 24 of the 24 motos he raced and all 12 overalls on his Honda CRF 450; his first effort on a 4-stroke bike.

Carmichael entered the 2005 season as the underdog, due to missing the prior season with the knee injury, now as a Suzuki factory rider. In what was projected as "the perfect storm", James "Bubba" Stewart made his debut in the premier 250cc class, along with perennial contenders Chad Reed and Kevin Windham, Carmichael triumphantly regained his Supercross title, with seven victories to Reed's five, Stewart's three, and Windham's one. Later that summer, Carmichael won all 12 events in the 250cc Outdoor National Championship again; winning 22 of 24 motos on an RMZ450. Carmichael also scored the US Open of Supercross title and led Team USA to a convincing victory at the Motocross des Nations.

Carmichael campaigned the 2006 Supercross season aboard an RMZ450; his first attempt at indoor competition on a four-stroke. It was the most exciting series battle in recent memory. There were multiple points lead changes and race winners, and Carmichael, Reed, and Stewart all entered the Las Vegas finale within 5 points of each other. With Carmichael and Reed tied for the lead, and Stewart only 1 point behind them, it was a close race. Carmichael rode to a safe second-place finish behind Stewart and ended the series with 6 victories and his fifth Supercross championship. He indicated that 2006 would be his last full-time season and planned to retire the following year.

In the 2006 Outdoor National Championship season, Carmichael once again dominated all comers, including James Stewart, in winning 9 races and placing second twice. However, at the season finale at Glen Helen Raceway, Carmichael suffered a terrible crash while challenging James Stewart for the win and was unable to finish the race. Carmichael had already clinched the overall championship at the prior round. In the crash, he sustained a shoulder injury and was unable to compete in the Motocross of Nations race in England. Ivan Tedesco replaced him on Team USA and helped lead the American team to victory.

As planned, Carmichael raced only a partial schedule in 2007. He would only race select events for Team Makita Suzuki while pursuing his new stock car career. Carmichael finished with two Supercross wins and six Outdoor National Championship wins, winning every race he entered. Carmichael capped his career with a winning performance at the X-Games and a victory with Team USA at the Motocross of Nations in Budds Creek, Maryland.

Stock car racing career
Carmichael's No. 30 for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series race at Road America in 2011
Carmichael's No. 4 for Turner Motorsports in the Truck Series race at Pocono in 2011

In 2007, Carmichael signed a driver development contract with Ginn Racing, which would later be merged with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Under the tutelage of veteran Mark Martin, Carmichael started his transition to stock cars by racing late models throughout the country. With backing from Monster Energy, Carmichael later transitioned to Ken Schrader Racing, and ran a few races in the Camping World East Series, including the prestigious Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California. In 2009, Carmichael was tabbed by Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick to drive the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado in 18 races for Harvick's team, Kevin Harvick, Inc. Though the transition wasn't easy, Carmichael finished 22nd in Truck Series points that year. In 2010, Carmichael and Monster left KHI and went to Turner Motorsports, where he would gain 9 top tens en route to finishing 13th in the points. Carmichael also made his Nationwide Series debut at Kansas Speedway, starting 12th and finishing 18th. Carmichael returned to Turner for 2011, and split the No. 30 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series with teammates James Buescher, Reed Sorenson, Jason Leffler and Mark Martin.

On September 2, 2011, Carmichael achieved his first career pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Camping World Truck Series.

Other activities

In 2009, for the BBC show Top Gear, Ken Block took James May out for Gymkhana-style driving at Block's stunt course at Inyokern Airport; an operational California airport. Carmichael appeared in a supporting role, to which Block described Carmichael as 'a good friend'.

He currently works on AMA Monster Energy Supercross Broadcasts on NBC AND NBCSN with Ralph Sheheen, Daniel Blair, and Will Christien.

Awards

He was voted 2009 Camping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver.

In 2015, he was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.[2]

Ricky won the gold in Supercross at the X Games in 2007, won gold in Step Up in '08, was jointly given the gold medal in the same event in "09 with Ronnie Renner and in 2019 won the bronze medal in Real Moto.

Motorsports career results

AMA Motocross / Supercross
Year Rnd
1		 Rnd
2		 Rnd
3		 Rnd
4		 Rnd
5		 Rnd
6		 Rnd
7		 Rnd
8		 Rnd
9		 Rnd
10		 Rnd
11		 Rnd
12		 Rnd
13		 Rnd
14		 Rnd
15		 Rnd
16		 Average
Finish		 Podium
Percent		 Place
1999 SX 6 19 - - - 4 14 19 4 - 18 6 11 12 7 19 11.58 - 16th
1999 MX 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 - - - - 9.00 64% 1st
2000 SX 8 4 10 3 2 4 10 3 1 3 19 5 3 4 8 5 5.63 38% 5th
2000 MX 1 3 11 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - 2.01 92% 1st
2001 SX 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.19 100% 1st
2001 MX 4 2 5 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 - - - - 1.75 83% 1st
2002 SX 20 4 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2.63 81% 1st
2002 MX 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.00 100% 1st
2003 SX 2 4 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1.75 94% 1st
2003 MX 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 - - - - - 1.18 100% 1st
2004 SX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2004 MX 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.00 100% 1st
2005 SX 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 1.75 100% 1st
2005 MX 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - 1.00 100% 1st
2006 SX 3 1 1 2 1 2 20 1 1 2 2 2 2 6 3 2 3.19 88% 1st
2006 MX 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 DNF - - - - 1.18 92% 1st
2007 SX 2 DNS DNS 2 1 DNS DNS DNS 2 1 2 2 DNS DNS DNS DNS - - 8th
2007 MX 1 1 1 1 1 DNS DNS DNS 1 DNS DNS DNS - - - - - - 6th
  • 1997 AMA 125cc/Lites Outdoor National Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
  • 1998 AMA 125cc/Lites East Coast Supercross Champion (Kawasaki) - Perfect season: 8-0
  • 1998 AMA 125cc/Lites Basement/Underwater National Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
  • 1999 AMA 125cc/Lites Outdoor National Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
  • 2000 AMA Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
  • 2001 AMA Supercross Champion (Kawasaki)
  • 2001 AMA Motocross Champion (Kawasaki)
  • 2002 AMA Supercross Champion (Honda)
  • 2002 AMA Motocross Champion (Honda) - Perfect season: 24-0
  • 2003 AMA Supercross Champion (Honda)
  • 2003 AMA Motocross Champion (Honda)
  • 2004 AMA Motocross Champion (Honda) - Perfect season: 24-0
  • 2005 AMA Supercross Champion (Suzuki)
  • 2005 AMA Motocross Champion (Suzuki)
  • 2006 AMA Supercross Champion (Suzuki)
  • 2006 AMA Motocross Champion (Suzuki)
Wins
  • 12 Wins in 125/250 AMA Supercross
  • 26 Wins in 125/250 AMA Motocross: 8 (1997), 8 (1998), 9 (1999), 1 (2001),
  • 48 Wins in 250/450 AMA Supercross: 1 (2000), 14 (2001), 11 (2002), 7 (2003), 7 (2005), 6 (2006), 2 (2007)
  • 76 Wins in 250/450 AMA Motocross: 9 (2000), 7 (2001), 12 (2002), 9 (2003), 12 (2004), 12 (2005), 9 (2006), 6 (2007)
  • 162 Wins in AMA SX/MX: 8 (1997), 8 (1998), 9 (1999), 10 (2000), 22 (2001), 23 (2002), 12 (2004), 19 (2005), 15 (2006), 8 (2007)

Other motocross / supercross
  • 2000 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA)
  • 2001 U.S. Open of Supercross Champion
  • 2005 FIM SX1 World Supercross Champion
  • 2005 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA)
  • 2005 U.S. Open of Supercross Champion
  • 2007 Motocross of Nations Champion (Team USA)

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Nationwide Series
NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NNSC Pts Ref
2010 Turner Motorsports 10 Toyota DAY CAL LVS BRI NSH PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT NSH KEN ROA NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN
18		 CAL
31		 CLT GTY TEX
35		 PHO
21		 HOM 84th 337 [3]
2011 30 Chevy DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA
9		 DAY
39		 KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH
26		 CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX 113th 01 [4]
34 PHO
15		 HOM

Camping World Truck Series
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCWTC Pts Ref
2009 Kevin Harvick Incorporated 4 Chevy DAY
24		 CAL
8		 ATL
21		 MAR
29		 KAN
23		 CLT DOV TEX
11		 MCH
7		 MLW
19		 MEM
14		 KEN
7		 IRP
19		 NSH BRI CHI
18		 IOW
13		 GTW
22		 NHA LVS
22		 MAR TAL
20		 TEX
12		 22nd 1978 [5]
Turner Motorsports 31 PHO
18		 HOM
19
2010 4 DAY
29		 ATL
6		 MAR
10		 NSH
15		 KAN
12		 DOV
4		 CLT
14		 TEX
20		 MCH
15		 IOW
9		 GTY
29		 IRP
14		 POC
19		 NSH
14		 DAR
24		 BRI
19		 CHI
28		 KEN
5		 NHA
29		 LVS
9		 MAR
9		 TAL
5		 TEX
10		 PHO
27		 HOM
21		 13th 2925 [6]
2011 DAY
8		 PHO
31		 DAR
30		 MAR
8		 NSH
14		 DOV
29		 CLT
12		 KAN
21		 TEX
6		 KEN
13		 IOW
27		 NSH
16		 IRP
19		 POC
20		 MCH
12		 BRI
29		 ATL
8		 CHI
25		 NHA
19		 KEN
6		 LVS
12		 TAL
4		 MAR
35		 TEX
8		 HOM
17		 16th 675 [7]

Camping World East Series
NASCAR Camping World East Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 NCWEC Pts Ref
2008 Ken Schrader Racing 4 Chevy GRE
5		 IOW
14		 SBO
26		 GLN
9		 NHA
5		 TMP
17		 MCM
4		 ADI
6		 MFD
8		 NHA
16		 DOV
7		 STA
10		 6th 1745 [8]
Dodge LRP
12

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ARSC Pts Ref
2008 Kevin Harvick Incorporated 33 Chevy DAY SLM IOW KAN CAR KEN TOL POC MCH CAY KEN BLN POC NSH ISF DSF CHI SLM NJE TAL
30		 TOL 139th 80 [9]
2009 DAY
21		 SLM CAR
17		 TAL KEN TOL POC MCH MFD IOW KEN BLN POC ISF CHI TOL DSF NJE SLM KAN CAR 85th 270 [10]
2010 Turner Motorsports 4 Toyota DAY
7		 PBE SLM TEX
25		 TAL
31		 TOL POC MCH IOW MFD POC BLN NJE ISF CHI DSF TOL SLM KAN CAR 60th 375 [11]
2011 Chevy DAY
4		 TAL SLM TOL NJE CHI POC MCH WIN BLN IOW IRP POC ISF MAD DSF SLM KAN TOL 88th 210 [12]

X Games Medals

Summer X Games Medals
  • X Games XIII - 2007 Los Angeles: Moto X Racing: Gold medal
  • X Games XIV - 2008 Los Angeles: Moto X Step Up: Gold medal
  • X Games XV - 2009 Los Angeles: Moto X Step Up: Gold medal
  • X Games XV - 2009 Los Angeles: Moto X Best Whip: Bronze medal
  • World of X Real Moto 2019: MTX Real Moto: Bronze medal
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References
  1. http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=463
  2. Ricky Carmichael at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  3. "Ricky Carmichael – 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. "Ricky Carmichael – 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. "Ricky Carmichael – 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. "Ricky Carmichael – 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  7. "Ricky Carmichael – 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  8. "Ricky Carmichael – 2008 NASCAR Camping World East Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  9. "Ricky Carmichael – 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  10. "Ricky Carmichael – 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  11. "Ricky Carmichael – 2010 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  12. "Ricky Carmichael – 2011 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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