Josh Hayes, winner of the 2006 Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series, earned his first AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year nomination. Hayes, 31, from Gulfport, Miss., won the Formula Xtreme title in a tight season-long battle with Yamaha riders Eric Bostrom and Jason DiSalvo. All three riders had a chance at the series coming into the final race of the year. Hayes earned the championship in spectacular fashion, winning a riveting battle over Bostrom and DiSalvo at the Mid-Ohio finale on Oct. 1.