2016
GNCC Racing Series
Round #7 - John Penton
Millfield, Ohio
May 28, 2016 |
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Walker Fowler Takes John Penton
GNCC Win
Chris Borich & Brycen
Neal Podium at GNCC Round 7
Millfield, OH (5/28/2016) - The
AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series
presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship,
continued today, May 28, in the Buckeye State with
the 27th Annual Wiseco John Penton GNCC held at
the popular Sunday Creek Raceway in Millfield, Ohio.
After facing hot and humid conditions for the first
time this season, it would be N-Fab/Maxxis/AmPro
Yamaha/Lonestar/MXP's Walker Fowler taking the overall
win. Maxxis/Fly Racing/HMF/Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Suzuki's
Chris Borich and Coastal Racing/MSR/Maxxis' Brycen
Neal would battle it out until the very end to round
out the overall podium in second and third.
Once the green flag waved on the seventh round
of the GNCC circuit, it was Maxxis/Fly Racing/HMF/Ye
Olde Cycle Barn/Suzuki's Chris Borich who found
himself in a favorable position and earned the
$250 Wiseco XC1 Holeshot Award, but he was accompanied
by Fowler who essentially led the way into the
Ohio woods. Fowler would capitalize on the early
lead and quickly pull away from the rest of the
pack by over thirty seconds once they checked
through timing and scoring for the first time.
Overall Podium: (2) Chris Borich, (1) Walker
Fowler, (3) Brycen Neal.Photo: Ken Hill
CST/LSR/Induction Solutions/DeRisi/SG/Tire Blocks'
Adam McGill had moved into second at the conclusion
of the first lap. While Fowler would maintain
the lead, McGill would slowly start gaining on
the defending champion throughout the first half
of the race.
With Fowler and McGill off in the distance, N-Fab/Maxxis/AmPro
Yamaha/Lonestar/MXP's Cole Richardson was in the
mix for third with Neal and Borich. The three
would continue the close racing throughout the
entire two-hour race.
Walker Fowler dominated the entire race leading
every lap from start to finish.Photo: Ken Hill
Once Fowler took the white flag he found himself
being pushed by McGill who was just a few seconds
behind. McGill would end up getting stuck around
the three mile marker where Fowler would lead
the way to the finish claiming his fourth win
of the season.
"I ended up getting caught up with a lapper
and had to go back down the hill in order to try
and get back up the hill climb," said McGill.
"Once I got to the bottom my quad wouldn't
start back and a fan was able to lend a hand and
help me get it started again."
Unfortunately Richardson would end up suffering
from a mechanical issue on the last lap ultimately
taking him out of a podium contention where he
would end up finishing ninth in XC1 Pro and 17th
overall.
While Fowler would cross the finish line first,
Borich and Neal would continue the fight, but
now for second and third with McGill and Richardson
out of the race. Once they hit the famed Sunday
Creek Motocross track, the two would exchange
positions back and forth, with Borich taking the
last double jump with an extra boost to cross
the line in second with Neal following in third
overall.
Chris Borich would end up clearing the double
jump right beforethe finish line, ultimately vaulting
him into second place position.Photo: Ken Hill
McGill would end up rebounding to finish just
off the podium in fourth. Show Hauler/Canyon Motorsports/GBC's
Landon Wolfe landed his first top-five finish
of the season in fifth, with Precision/Axis/Maxxis-backed
Jay Shadron having an equally impressive ride
in sixth.
In the XC2 Pro-Am division, Hygear Suspension/Waynesburg
Yamaha/FLY Racing/Moto-Xperts/Spider Graphix's
Greg Covert jumped out to the early lead grabbing
his first ever $125 All Balls Racing Holeshot
Award. Much like Fowler, Covert used the early
lead to gain valuable seconds on the rest of the
field. ITP/Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Walsh Racecraft's
Westley Wolfe would spend the race recovering
from getting stuck on the first lap to finish
a respectable second overall, while BNR Motorsports/GBC/Moose
Racing's Kevin Yoho finished third after facing
a 15-second penalty for starting his quad early.
XC2 Pro-Am Podium: (2) Westley Wolfe, (1) Greg
Covert, (3) Kevin Yoho.Photo: Ken Hill
"It feels great to get another win since
I haven't been able to get once since the season
opener," said Covert. "I've been working
really hard these past couple of weeks to get
another win and hopefully I'll be able to continue
this streak at the next few races."
Devon Feehan rode a hard fought race to earn
his first ever College A (16-21) victory along
with ninth overall. His finish earned him top
amateur honors.
Right after the conclusion of the 1 p.m. Pro
race, the action continued with UTV racing. Can-Am/Chaney
Racing/CT Race Worx/Maxxis/Fox Shocks' Kyle Chaney
returned to his winning ways taking gold at the
conclusion of the hour long race. JB Off-Road/Can-Am's
Tim Farr put forth his best effort to finish second
with Can-Am/DWT/Houser Racing/Elka Suspension/HMF's
Cody Miller crossing the line in third.
Overall UTV Podium: (2) Tim Farr, (1) Kyle Chaney,
(3) Cody Miller.Photo: Chelsea Taylor
The 4x4 Pro riders made a clean sweep of the
10 a.m. podium with Cunningham Racing/Can-Am/Spider
Graphix/Gold Speed's Kevin Cunningham taking the
overall by nearly two minutes. Can-Am/QuadBoss'
Bryan Buckhannon and Team UXC Racing's Michael
Swift finished out the overall podium in second
and third.
Pierce Performance/Maxxis/Waynesburg Yamaha/FLY
Racing's John Glauda Jr. took the $125 GT Thunder
Overall Amateur Award with his sixth place overall
finish.
The WXC division, Teixeira Tech/KAhart Racing/Yamaha's
Kylie Ahart landed on the top spot of the podium
for back-to-back wins. Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Maxxis/Fox
Shocks-back Alicia McCormick and Yamaha rider
Traci Pickens finished a respective second and
third.
10 a.m. Overall Podium:(2) Bryan Buckhannon,
(1) Kevin Cunningham, (3) Michael Swift.Photo:
Ken Hill
The reigning champion and Big Country Powersports'
Sam Yokely, made the pass for the win on the white
flag lap further extending his points lead. Polaris/Racer
Tech/Keefer Mazda's Jesi Stracham followed in
second with New Jersey native Robert Boynton rounding
out the overall podium in third.
ATV racing at The John Penton kicked off with
the 8 a.m. youth race where Wilson Racing's Tim
Sroka made it four-in-a-row taking the overall
and Super Mini (12-15) victory. Cobra rider Dylan
Walraven crossed right behind Sroka in second
with Kentucky native Rhett Cox making his first
podium appearance of the season in third.
Overall Youth Podium: (2) Dylan Walraven, (1)
Tim Sroka, (3) Rhett Cox.Photo: Ken Hill
The 1 p.m. ATV Pro race and 4 p.m. UTV race were
broadcast LIVE in their entirety on RacerTV.com
and can be viewed as archived video online by
visiting the GNCC LIVE page.
The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country
Series continues with round eight on June 11 and
12 with the Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC at the Seneca
Highland in Odessa, New York.
For more information on the series, visit the
official website at www.gnccracing.comor call
(304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series
Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram,
and be sure to always hashtag #GNCCLIVE.
The Wiseco John Penton GNCC
Millfield, Ohio
Round 7 of 13
Saturday, May 28
XC1 Pro Event Results:
Walker Fowler (YAM)
Chris Borich (SUZ)
Brycen Neal (YAM)
Adam McGill (HON)
Landon Wolfe (HON)
Jay Shadron (YAM)
Josh Merritt (YAM)
Tucker Wyatt (HON)
Cole Richardson (YAM)
Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
Walker Fowler (186)
Adam McGill (167)
Brycen Neal (150)
Chris Borich (143)
Landon Wolfe (93)
Cole Richardson (90)
Jarrod McClure (89)
Greg Covert (77)
Josh Merritt (76)
Jay Shadron (62)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship
Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion.
XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:
Greg Covert (YAM)
Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
Kevin Yoho (YAM)
Marty Christofferson (HON)
Matthew Lindle (HON)
Randy Hamilton (HON)
Kenny Shick (YAM)
Bryson Hoppes (YAM)
Michael Lancaster (HON)
Matt Hanna (YAM)
XC2 Pro-Am Series Points Standings:
Greg Covert (167)
Westley Wolfe (142)
Marty Christofferson (137)
Randy Hamilton (109)
Cody Collier (103)
James Green (102)
Matthew Lindle (96)
Bryson Hoppes (94)
Kevin Yoho (79)
Michael Lancaster (61)
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GNCC Racing
Pro XC1 ATV Podium (left to right)
Adam McGill (2nd), Walker Fowler (1st),
Brycen Neal (3rd)
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As the first lap wore on, Fowler and Shadron
began to separate themselves from the rest of
the pack while the racing tightened up behind
them. CST/LSR/Induction Solutions/DeRisi/SG/Tire
Blocks' Adam McGill and Maxxis/Fly Racing/HMF/Ye
Olde Cycle Barn/Suzukis Chris Borich began the
fight for third.
On the second lap of the four-lap race, Fowler
had pulled a twenty second lead on Shadron who
still maintained the second place position until
McGill was able to work his way around him. The
racing action really heated up during the third
lap where the top three racers were suddenly wheel-to-wheel
all battling for the lead. With reports of Fowler
looking down at his quad, the crowd anticipated
an extra pit stop but was shocked when he decided
to keep pushing.
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Walker Fowler
makes it three-in-a-row and extends his
points lead
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"My quad was starting to run hot,"
said Fowler. "After the race we pulled the
cover off and noticed a lot of leaves and mud.
The lapped riders were brutal this race and I
got a little close a couple of times and it just
packed the radiator in, but Moto-Xperts and Evans
Cooling Systems held everything together."
The decision to keep racing and avoid an extra
pit stop paid off in the end when Fowler crossed
the finish line first. He was followed by last
year's Steele Creek GNCC winner, McGill, who made
his first podium appearance of the season.
"It feels great to be back on the podium,"
said McGill. "I felt like the bike was there
the whole time this season and I just personally
haven't been ready, but now it's all fitting together
and it's good to be back where I know I'm supposed
to be."
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Adam McGill
made his first podium appearance of the
season with second overall at the Steele
Creek GNCC
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Unfortunately, Shadron suffered a mechanical
issue on the last lap ultimately putting him out
of the race. Coastal Racing/MSR/Maxxis' Brycen
Neal capitalized on Shadron's misfortune and moved
up into the third place position. As he crossed
the finish line third overall, Borich was right
on his back bumper in fourth.
CST/LSR/Induction Solutions/DeRisi/SG/Tire Blocks'
Cole Richardson had his season best finish crossing
the line in fifth, followed by BNR/Moose Racing/Maxxis-backed
Josh Merritt in sixth and Show Hauler/Canyon Motorsports/GBC's
Landon Wolfe in seventh overall.
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