Record Numbers at GBC Heartland Challenge
GBC Heartland Challenge 10 Hour Endurance Race

The preparations began on Thursday, August 20th as racers and their families began to roll into the event campgrounds. At 1pm racers Johnny Gallagher, Walker Fowler and GBC’s own Kory Ellis hosted a 4-hour riding clinic to help racers of all ages get some last minute pointers and to make sure their machines were in good working order.

The Friday festivities kicked off with a more check-in and tech inspections for the day’s races: the 1.5-hour Polaris Ace Challenge and the 4-hour UTV Challenge. At 3pm GBC hosted an afternoon barbecue for riders and their families as the Ace class competitors embarked on their laps around the Heartland course. After 13 laps the team of Rush-Boyd Team UXC2 from Gillette, WY claimed the top spot in the Ace class race, while GBC racer Jessie Stracham took third on a set of GBC Dirt Commanders.

GBC Heartland Challenge UTV 900 Class Podium Team UXC (2nd), RJ Performance (1st) Brockway Racing (3rd)

As the sun began to sink in the sky, more than 60 UTVs crowded the starting area for the 4-hour UTV Challenge. As the air horn sounded racers sprinted to their vehicles, fired them up, and roared into the first turn of what would be a long and arduous race.

Andy Ives raced a near stock 2016 Polaris RZR 1000 S with GBC Tires at the GBC Heartland Challenge

After four hours of racing through the challenging course in the dark, Team Jack’s Can-Am from Jefferson, PA took the UTV 1000 victory and also claimed the prestigious Overall top spot amongst the 60+ teams. Team RJ Performance from Ottumwa, IA bested the UTV 900 class and the second spot Overall, while Team Torn Racing from Arlington, TX topped the UTV 800 class.

While the UTV racers might have stayed up late receiving their awards and celebrating their victories, it was an early bedtime for the children slated to participate in the next morning’s 3-hour Youth ATV Race.Saturday morning came early, and by 8am there were 17 children lined up ready to compete for four different class titles.

GBC Motorsport's Andy Ives charged his way to a 2nd place finish at the 2015 GBC Heartland Challenge in the UTV 1000 class

The kids ran a modified course and Team Bananas from Carlisle, IA took the 90cc Production class and the Overall victories after completing 25 laps. Team K-N-D Racing from Jamesport, MO took the win in the 90cc Stock class, while Team 2 Fast 2 Strokes from Phill, IA won the 70cc Production class and Team DRR Madness from North Platte, NE topped the 50cc Production class.

Following the Youth race awards ceremony and a quick lunch break, participants in the premier 10-hour Adult ATV Challenge prepared to begin one of the most difficult races imaginable. Set to run from 1:30-11:30pm, teams and ironman competitors would spend 10 hours battling the course, fatigue, and the transition from daytime to nighttime racing. As the race got underway and 76 riders hit the course to compete for 9 different class titles and the coveted Corn Cob Trophy, which would be awarded to each of the class winners.

The field of riders attacked the course but employed their race strategies, as both riders and machines would be tested early and often during the 10-hour marathon. The course would take riders through a wide variety of terrain, including dense forests, wide open grassy stretches, and of course the infamous Challenge section of the track with obstacles of all sorts.

Mother Nature decided to throw a wrench in the works and add yet another variable to the always changing conditions: lightning with heavy rains. As riders slipped and slid around the increasingly muddy course, race officials put the event on hold around the 7-hour mark to let the lightning pass.

By the time it had passed, the course had become impassable after the heavy rains and officials called the race. Team Yamaha from Aurora, OH, led by GBC sponsored rider Johnny Gallagher, claimed the AA Class win and top Overall spot, taking possession of the Corn Cob Trophy. Team UXC out of Lewisburg, TN took the win in the 4x4 Pro Class, while Matt Lindle bested the Ironman Class and Team Mickelberry won the Women’s Class.

Prior to the event, GBC Motorsports partnered with their sister company Kanati Tires to give away a set of Kanat light truck tires to one lucky pre-registrant. Joe Dolejsi from Minnesota was randomly drawn from the pool of pre-registrants and opted for a set of LT305/70R18 Kanati Mud Hogs for his truck. We delivered his Mud Hogs at the event, and Joe went home with his new set of tires. Congratulations again to Joe; we hope you enjoy your new Kanati tires!

GBC Motorsports is a proud supporter of not only the Heartland Challenge, but many race series and racers across the country. To learn more about GBC Motorsports tires for ATVs and UTVs, their race efforts, contingency program and more, visit www.GBCMotorsports.com. Visit them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to get the latest updates.