Specialty Awards
Presented at GNCC ATV Awards Banquet
ATVriders.com's Kenny Hill Awarded Media of Excellence
Morgantown, WV (12/17/2010) -
Emotions and accolades poured out during the 2010
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series banquets,
with the top GNCC riders in every bike and ATV
class collecting series awards, and several other
personalities recognized through specialty awards.
The banquets took place on December 10 and 11
at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, WV, with over
1200 racers, fans and family members attending.
On the ATV side, the most emotional moments
were reserved for the XC2 Pro Am class, as 2009
Champion Josh Kirkland, who was paralyzed in a
practice crash over the summer, returned to the
GNCC scene for the first time since his accident.
Kirkland sat on stage to collect his fifth-place
XC2 trophy, but 2010 XC2 Champion Brian Wolf presented
him with his number-one plate and medallion. Fellow
XC2 rider Eric Hoyland, who skipped racing in
the class at the final round in order to allow
Kirkland to remain fifth in points, received the
Good Samaritan Award. In addition, Wolf and Walker
Fowler were presented the Sportsmanship Award.
The two riders tied in final points, and while
Wolf won the crown on a tie breaker, they agreed
to break the number-one plate in half at the season
finale.
Not surprisingly, GNCC XC2 pro Champion Chris
Borich collected the Rider of the Year Award,
a good match to his second-straight GNCC Championship.
He also received a cash bonus and series; ring
encrusted with two diamonds to represent his two
GNCC Titles. Cliffton Beasley won Utility Rider
of the Year for an undefeated season in the U2
class, Youth Overall Champion Levi Coen won the
Youth Rider of the Year award, while fellow youth
rider Wesley Wolfe took the Hard Luck Award. Women's
Champion Kristen Atwell won Most Improved Rider.
Super Senior rider Glenn Pritchard won the Bad
Ass Award. Pritchard crashed early in the season,
and while in the hospital for his injuries, discovered
he had cancer. He still returned to race again
at the end of the season.
Emotions poured out again when the series recognized
GNCC family members who were lost during the season,
including Ryan Earley, Brad Jefferies, Marcus
Gonzales and Chris Cole. John Gallagher Sr, who
has raced more GNCC races than anyone in the history
of the series, passed in a work-related accident
last December, and GNCC Racing honored him with
a Lifetime Achievement Award, only the fifth ever
handed out in series' history.
BRP Can-Am collected the Sponsor of the Year
Award, and Yamaha won the Manufacturer's Cup.
Warnert Racing collected Rough and Ready Pit Crew
honors, photographer Kenny Hill took the Award
of Media Excellence, and Ohio won the State Championship
for collected nine GNCC Championships. And William
Yokley, the 2010 UTV Overall Champion, collected
the Sport Ambassador Award once again.
The 2011 Can-Am Series kicks off on March 5-8
with the Westgate River Ranch GNCC.
About
GNCC Racing:
The
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is
America's premier off-road racing series. Founded
in 1973, the 13-round championship is produced
exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country
racing is one of the most physically demanding
sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC
races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks
ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing
for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied
terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks
and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests
of both survival and speed. For more information,
please visit www.gnccracing.com..
About
Racer Productions:
A West Virginia-based motorcycle and ATV event
production company, Racer Productions has been
a leader in the off-road racing industry for more
than 30 years. It's repertoire of facilities and
events includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country Series, since 1973; professional
and amateur national events at High Point Raceway
in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, since 1977; and
professional and amateur ATV events at Loretta
Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. For
more information, please visit www.racerproductions.com.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
|
