Shawn Hess Nets Third-Straight
GNCC Pro Podium
Hess Motorsports John Penton
GNCC UXC2 Pro UTV Race Report
Muenster, TX (6/2/2018) - Hess
Motorsports’ Shawn Hess scored his third podium
in a row during the John Penton GNCC at Sunday
Creek Raceway in Millfield, OH. Hess is driving
a Yamaha YXZ 1000R in the UXC2 Pro class.
Just before the race, the track was inundated
with rain. Taking the muddy conditions in stride,
Hess got the holeshot in his row and then hooked
up with Kyle Hart and they went 1-2 to the front.
Though he challenged Hart, at the end, he finished
second, marking his best result this season.
“It was a brutal race,” said Hess. “The course
was quite muddy due to a downpour right before
our race. We had to pick smart lines and avoid
the lapped traffic. I sure tried to get past Kyle,
but didn’t have enough at the end. We had a pretty
clean race the whole day.”
Hess relied on his Maxxis tires with Tire Balls
and his Elka Suspension to get him through the
changing conditions. The track went from super
slick to tacky as the race progressed and the
Maxxis Tires gave him predictable grip throughout.
“With the mud, traction was key,” said Hess.
“We were running the Maxxis Big Horn 2.0s, and
they worked perfectly. The Elka suspension was
working great, and I couldn’t have asked for a
better setup. Even when the track got rutted out,
the Elka shocks pushed right through. The Yamaha
is tough as nails and our results speak for themselves.”
With his third podium came a jump in the title
chase. Hess now sits third in the championship,
just one point out of second. Though he missed
the opening round, he still has a legitimate shot
at the title when the series returns from the
summer break.
“Before this race, I told myself I wanted to
push for the win or at least finish second,” said
Hess. “We just fell short of the win and I was
happy with the second. We want to get a good finish
in the last two rounds. We jumped up quite a bit
in points and we’ll finish strong no matter what.
I just wish we didn’t have to wait so long for
the next round.”
Hess’ father, Glenn, finished fourth in the Masters
UTV class equaling his best finish of the season,
ahead of Austin Sides, who finished sixth and
Matt Horton, who finished eighth. Hess Motorsports
driver Patrick Shamblin finished a season best
seventh in the UXC3 Pro-Am class.
“My father was running third, but had some issues
on the final lap and finished fourth,” said Hess.
“Patrick had one of his best finishes all year.
He’s getting his car dialed in and was really
excited about his best run all year. Everything
is starting to work out for everybody.”
Hess Motorsports will return to GNCC UTV competition
at Powerline Park in St. Clairsville, OH October
13-24.
Hess Motorsports 2018
Sponsors:
Hess Motorsports Yamaha Motor Company Sehorn Yamaha
Maxxis Houser Elka DWT Tireballs, Bikeman Performance,
Teixeira Tech Maxima Hinson Corbeau Double E Star
Lightbars SSi Decals, Rugged Radios
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