Dallas Daniels won his first AMA Horizon Award at the 2018 AMA Flat Track Grand Championship in June, then won the 2018 Nicky Hayden AMA Road Race Horizon Award at the 2018 AMA Road Race Grand Championship in October, becoming the first racer to win two AMA Horizon Awards.

Daniels and AMA Hall of Famer Nicky Hayden have a few things in common. Both started their motorcycle racing careers in flat track and road racing.

Daniels’ father, Nick, worked as a mechanic for the Haydens early in his career, and Nicky Hayden’s father, Earl, is supporting Daniels’ racing career.

While Nicky Hayden was the first rider to win an AMA Horizon Award, Daniels is the first to win two.

AMA Horizon Awards are presented to riders who are poised for success in the professional ranks of motorcycle racing. The awards are given each year in flat track, motocross and road racing. The awards were renamed in Hayden’s honor in 2017.

“I had a goal to win two [AMA] Horizon Awards, since no one has ever done that before,” Daniels said. “It means so much to me because my dad worked for the Haydens, and Earl [Hayden] helps me out now.”

Nick Daniels said he worked as a mechanic for Nicky Hayden and his brothers Tommy Hayden and Roger Lee Hayden early in their careers. He was elated to see his son win his second AMA Horizon Award.

“Honestly, to win these awards in [Nicky’s] honor means the world to us,” he said.

Dallas Daniels competed in the MotoAmerica Junior Cup in 2018 with Dale Quarterly Racing. He is planning on returning to professional road racing in 2019, as well as making his pro flat track debut at the Lima Half-Mile race in June.

Previous winners of the AMA Road Race Horizon Award include three-time AMA Superbike Champion and 2009 FIM Superbike World Champion Ben Spies and current MotoAmerica competitors Jake Lewis, Hayden Gillim and Anthony Mazziotto.