Bill Ballance
Eyes Ninth Consecutive Title at Power Line GNCC
Morgantown, WV (10/9/2008) -
No other word comes close to describing the career
of Kentucky-based ATV racer Bill Ballance than
"Legend." Ballance will continue that
legacy this Saturday if he clinches his ninth
consecutive Can-Am Grand National Cross Country
Series title as he takes on North America's top
off-road racers at Power Line Park.
With three victories and four additional podium
appearances this season, Ballance (No. 1 Yamaha)
needs to finish in front of rival Adam McGill
this weekend to further cement himself as the
top ATV racer in GNCC's 35-year history.
West Union, West Virginia's McGill would love
nothing more than to derail Ballance’s
championship run here. Riding the No. 5 KTM. McGill
has notched four wins this season, the most of
anyone on the tour. Another victory this weekend
will take the championship fight with Ballance
down to the Series’ finale
in two weeks in Indiana.
Bryan Cook sits third in points on the merit
of a win and three addition top-three finishes,
including a third at the previous race two weeks
ago. The North Carolina Honda racer will have
to contend with a pair of Western Pennsylvania
talents, Chris Borich and Chris Bithell.
Borich, from Sunbury, Pa., has ridden the No.
2 Rockstar/Yoshimura Suzuki to two victories this
season, as well as a single runner-up finish.
Bithell, of Irwin, Pa., won the previous GNCC
round in Upstate New York on his Warnert Racing
Can-Am.
Rookie Brandon Sommers (Millersburg, Ohio) is
fifth in the standings and is seeking his first
victory this season. Riding a GT Thunder Yamaha,
earning that victory just 150 miles from home
would definitely be special for Sommers.
Completing the top 10 in points are Taylor Kiser
(No. 7 KTM), Matthew Smiley (No. 4 Honda), William
Yokley (No. 11 National Guard Honda), Jarrod McClure
(No. 14 ATVRiders.com Honda) and Ryan Lane (No.
18 Honda).
A variety of special races and classes will surround
the 1 p.m. Pro race. At 8 a.m., Youth racers ages
six through 15 will compete on a special youth
race course. The 10 a.m. Amateur race features
Women, Super Senior, 4X4 and Novice Classes. The
Women's class features a fierce contest between
a pair of Pennsylvanians: Uniontown's Angel Atwell
and Shamokin's Traci Cecco.
At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the GNCC UTV Series
hits the track, featuring side-by-side race machines
such as the Yamaha Rhino and Polaris RZR.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series
is the largest off-road racing series in the United
States. The top Pro racers make a lucrative living
in the sport, reigning in six-figure salaries
and endorsements, as well as a share of a $130,000
in prize purse and more than $3 million in contingency
and bonus monies. GNCC events also offer classes
for amateur riders of all skill and experience
levels. Four-wheeled ATVs will compete throughout
the day on Saturday, October 11, and dirt bikes
will race on Sunday, October 12. Riders can sign
up at the track. The amateur racer entry fee is
$40.
About GNCC Racing:
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series
is America's premier off-road racing series. The
13-round championship series is produced exclusively
by Racer Productions and has run since 1973. Cross
country racing is one of the most physically demanding
sports in the world. The nearly three-hour long
GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through
tracks ranging from eight to twelve miles in length.
With varied terrain including hills, woods, mud,
dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events
are tests of both survival and speed. GNCC Racing
will air weekly television shows on the Versus
network starting August 2. GNCC featured sponsors
include Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose Racing,
Maxxis, Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, Geico,
Klotz, FMF, ITP and Weekend Warrior, and riders
compete for over $3 million in series prizes and
contingency money. Associate sponsors include
Alpinestars, Cometic, HiPer Technology, Laegers,
Moose Utility Division, The National Guard, Powersport
Grafx, REM, Scott, Thor, Tire Balls, Twin Air,
Ogio, Rekluse, and MotoTee's. For more information
log on to www.gnccracing.com.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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