Chapter 1 – Roots in the Grain | Grain & Grit: A Tribute to Nicky Hayden

We begin in Owensboro, Kentucky—where a future world champion first found his edge on dirt racing tracks. This chapter traces the early years of Nicky Hayden, capturing the grit, family influence, and passion that drove him forward.

Paralleling his rise, we start assembling a one-of-a-kind tribute cutting board. The piece takes shape as rough cuts and foundational inlay work reflect the raw determination that defined Hayden’s youth.

Build Highlights:

• Raw shaping and foundational inlay

• Early life, dirt-track beginnings, AMA ascent

• A portrait of grit rendered in grain