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Team UXC Racing's
Michael Swift rode for 10 hours to win
the 2012 Heartland Challenge in the
Pro 4x4 Ironman class
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Lewisburg, TN (8/22/2012) -Team
UXC Racing headed to Carlisle, Iowa this past
weekend to defend their title in the Heartland
10 Hour Challenge. For the past four years this
challenge has provided a Pro-Utility class (consisting
of three riders and three four-wheelers).
Team UXC has brought home three of the four
championships in this class. The 5th Annual
Heartland Challenge modified the Pro-Utility
class from a team competition to a Pro 4x4 Ironman
class only weeks before the challenge began.
The class went from having three teammates/three
machines to running the race solo with one machine.
Michael Swift of Team UXC, of Lewisburg, TN
represented Team Can-AmTalk.com in the Pro 4x4
Ironman class this weekend. Also racing for
Team Can-AmTalk.com was Forrest Whorton from
Castletown, VA. Whorton raced in the Open Ironman
class to defend his current title.
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Can-amTalk.com
/ Team UXC Racing's Michael Swift won
the Pro 4x4 Ironman class at the 2012
Heartland Challenge by finishing four
laps ahead of second place |
The Iowa region has seen extreme drought this
summer leaving very dry and dusty conditions
for the 7.9 mile cross country course consisting
of woods, fields, jumps, and obstacle courses.
The flag dropped at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August
18th with a lamanse style start. All Racers
were lined up 50 feet across from their bike,
at the gun shot racers ran to their machine,
fired the engine up and lobbied for the best
position off the line and into the woods. Michael
Swift rallied for 3rd position off the start
and quickly commanded the lead by the end of
the first lap. By the midway marker of five
hours, Swift had lapped all seven Pro 4x4 Ironman
contestants. Whorton claimed the #2 position
in the Open Ironman Class. With daylight dwindling
after the midway point, Team Can-AmTalk.com
riders quickly pitted for fuel and light installations
to finish the race in the dark.
With one hour remaining in the event, Swift
pitted for fuel and dismounted his CAN-AM machine
to take a quick stretch for the first time of
the race. After ten hours of continuous racing,
the checkered flag finally flew and Swift soared
across the finish line to take a commanding
first place podium in the Pro 4x4 Ironman class
(more than four laps ahead of 2nd place). Whorton,
who held a strong second place the majority
of the race, experienced mechanical failure
on the last lap dropping him back to a 3rd place
podium in the Open Ironman class.
“I had a great run out there!”
said Swift. “I tried to find a good pace
that I felt I could run for a solid ten hours
that would wear down my competion, and that’s
what I did. I have to thank Can-Amtalk.com for
making this race possible for our team. Also
a big thanks to Can-Am BRP, Maxxis Tires, Rox
Speed FX, Moto Pro Training, Team UXC’s
fabrication shop, and all of Team UXC sponsors
for their support. Ten hours on the 2012 Outlander
800 XT and not a single problem. It would not
be possible without all my sponsors working
together.”
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Team UXC Racing's
Forrest Whorton placed third in the
Open Ironman Class aboard his Can-Am
Outlander ATV
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Forrest Whorton stated that he had a great
race after fighting through the dust right off
the start. He worked his way into 2nd place
and held a solid 2nd all day long until his
unfortunate last lap.
Team UXC would like to thank all our sponsors
for their tremdous support. A special shout
out to the hardworking individuals who helped
out in our pits. Also, a big thanks to Andy
Kyner and crew, GBC Tires, and Can-Am for putting
together the Heartland 10 Hour Challenge, a
truly unique event.
You can learn more about Team UXC Racing by
visiting teamuxcracing.com
or on Facebook at facebook.com/teamuxcracing
Team UXC Racing
would like to thank all of our 2012 sponsors:
Can-Am, Maxxis Tires, Can-Amtalk.com, PIAA,
Santor Design Co., Fox Racing Shox, CarboRocket,
Paragon ATV, Tireballs Kal-Guard, Ricochet Offroad
Armor, Spider Grips, Cycra, Rox, Evans Coolant,
Fourwerx Carbon, SSI Decals, DP Brakes, Outerwears,
ATR, Cool It Thermo Tec, Moto Pro Training,
Fly, High-Tech, ATVRiders.com, Flexx, Scott,
Twin Air, Rath Racing, Arai, Leatt, HMF, Hiper,
America's Motor Sports, Bopp Racing Components,
Cyclops, Mike Penland Racing, RB Components.
