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South Valley Riverton Journal

Riverton Soldier Continues Racing

Dec 07, 2015 11:41AM ● By Greg James

By Greg James

South Valley - United States Army Cadet Kenny Dailey, a 2012 Riverton High School graduate, has carved himself as an integral part of the Army West Point Cycling Team.

As captain of the cycling team, Dailey races in several styles of competition with his team. He races as part of the mountain bike team, track racing team (held in a velodrome or small oval arena) and cyclocross team (mountain biking with rider dismounts and bike carry portions of the race).

On Sept 16-17, he finished third in the individual time trials and his team placed second in the division two points race in Colorado Springs, Colo (track racing).

Dailey is a senior at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. He balances competitive riding with a heavy academic load. He will graduate in the spring with a bachelor’s degree and begin his commitment to serve his country.

“For me it is incredible to see him competing at this level. Riding two wheels has always been second nature to him his whole life. It is so cool when they announce his name at a race and they say he is from Riverton, Utah. Hearing that is cool,” Dailey’s father Ken Dailey II said.

Dailey began riding motocross at age five. In his spare time, and to keep him active, his parents got him involved in hockey. He began playing at 8-years-old, and started four years for the Riverton High School team.

At 15-years-old, he began working for Infinite Cycle Bike Shop in Riverton and the owners got him interested in BMX racing and road racing. 

Dailey raced motocross all over the western United States. He debated taking a year off from college to race professionally. 

“I am glad he stuck with school. In the long run, I think he knows that college will open more doors. He has been a good student since second grade. My wife (Carolyn) was his second grade teacher and she told him he needed to keep his assignments turned in if he wanted to race. He is the most self motivated kid I know. I never had to tell him to keep his grades up,” Dailey’s father said.

Dailey will receive his post-graduation assignment with the military before the end of the year. He plans to continue to race bicycles and motocross. After he completes his assignment, he hopes to race motorcycles professionally at some point.