Darnell Dickerson 2025 Commercial Safe and Lock Super Pro Bike, Phil’s Plumbing Company and Repair Street Bike Powered By Local 360 Plumbers and Gasfitters Champion

Last Updated on February 27, 2026 by WWTR

By Jeremy Rosenstengel

Photos by Keke Lipford

The St. Louis area boasts a rich and diverse history in motorcycle drag racing. What began on the streets in places with iconic—and almost sinister—names like “The Slab” and Hall Street has evolved dramatically. Today, World Wide Technology Raceway attracts top-tier racers with motorcycles capable of running 8- and 9-second quarter miles. The appeal of making 150 mph passes on a world-class track with lights, fans, safety checks, and the chance to compete against the Midwest’s best is undeniable, especially compared to the dangers of street racing and even disputes over prize money. Yes, that happens.

Such was the case for Darnell Dickerson, owner of Down to Ride Performance. Equipped with his 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa, Darnell is a confident and highly skilled rider who simply needed a stage to showcase his talent. In 2018, after encouragement from his friend Rob Helem, Darnell decided to leave street racing behind and hit the track. Another friend, B.J. Evans, convinced him to try bracket racing. On his very first outing, Darnell advanced all the way to the finals where he faced none other than former and current World Wide Technology Raceway Champion Scott Leonard. The result? Against all odds, Darnell won. His first time racing at WWTR, and his first time on a track—what a debut!

From that moment, Darnell knew he had found his passion. Over the years, he honed his craft and became a formidable competitor. Entering the 2025 season, Darnell set his sights on two classes: Commercial Safe & Lock Super Pro Motorcycle and Phil’s Plumbing Company and Repair Street Bike Powered By Local 360 Plumbers and Gasfitters. While the classes are similar, Super Comp leans more toward street bikes. Unlike most competitors, Darnell chose not to use a Delay Box in Super Pro. Instead, he relied on his skill to release the clutch manually “off the bottom” in both classes. This approach is highly unusual and significantly more challenging in a box class, requiring exceptional talent and precision.

So, how did Darnell fare in 2025 with this bold strategy? He didn’t just succeed—he dominated, winning championships in both classes. That’s right: two titles in one season. Many racers spend their entire careers chasing a single championship, and Darnell claimed two in one year. Incredible.

Along the way, Darnell earned three race victories and two runner-up finishes, including a win and two runner-ups at Boone Terre Raceway. His formula for success? Stay focused, ignore intimidation, and trust your own ability. When asked about the competition, Darnell shared a story about defeating two of the Midwest’s best—the Klemme brothers—on back-to-back passes at the end of last season. Talk about pressure. Nothing rattles this guy.

Darnell credits God for watching over him on the bike and extends thanks to his team at Down to Ride Performance, Brad Christian at American Iron Performance, B.J. Evans, Yan Levit, Jonna Jenkins, Smooth E Lewis, and Willis Racing for their support.

World Wide Technology Raceway proudly congratulates Darnell Dickerson on his remarkable achievement: not one, but two championships in the 2025 race season. What a talent. What an accomplishment.