2009 GBC Heartland Challenge ATV & UTV Endurance Racing Events Carlisle, Iowa August 22-23, 2009

In the Pro Utility class, it was the Polaris Rath Racing team that would grab the holeshot, but the team would run into mechanical issues ending things early for them.

With the Rath team out of the way, the Can-Am/Talk.com team, consisting of last year’s Pro utility class winners, Michael Swift, Clifton Beasley and Rick Cecco, would take over the lead. Even after Cecco blew through a check point, and the team incurred a five minute penalty, they still finished an amazing two laps ahead of second place and were the only utility team to make it into the top ten overall. “We really have to thank Can-Am and Talk.com, they both put a lot into this and really helped us out a lot,” said Swift, who plans to race the GBC Heartland Challenge every year as long as the event continues.

Second on the Pro Utility podium was the SAFR Boys race team, of Scott Kilby, Ken Robey and GBC’s Kevin Johnston, who were also aboard a Can-Am. “We had a little problem with our brakes early on, but we just kept at it. At the end I went nine laps straight so I could catch Mike Penland’s team,” said Scott Kilby, who would take it to the finish line in second place.

“We were running the new SAFR Run Flat system from GBC Motorsports and the system work great and helped us finish really well,” said Johnston.

In third place, and also piloting a Can-Am was the Mike Penland Racing team of Mike Penland, Scott Wheeler and Ben Hedrick. This was the first time Penland and his team was a part of the event and Penland was quite impressed with the supportive and friendly environment surrounding the Heartland Challenge. “It was really an honor to meet so many people. The support I got from everyone and just the overall caring environment really makes this a special event,” said Penland, who was touched by the out pouring of support and well wishes from friends as well as strangers in regards to the recent passing of his son Hoyt on July 23rd.

In the Pro-am ranks, it was the Locked N Loaded team that would take the class in, and finish in fourth place overall. Vadasy Racing would claim second with 36 laps in a time of 10:19:32 with the Hornung Cycle team close behind with a time of 10:19:34.

In the 40+ class, the Old Nutz team, who were debuting GBC’s new Race Rex XC tire proved that they can still hang with the young guns of the sport. The Old Nutz took the win in their class with 36 laps, and with a time of 10:13:52, they also finished in and impressive fifth overall.

In the Women’s class, it was the SAFR Girls, who were running the new SAFR system that would take the win in their class. Pro Fab put out a good effort with both of their teams taking wins in both B and C classes.

In the ever-challenging Ironman class, it was cattle farmer Jason Gudde who would complete and incredible 30 laps to take the Ironman win. Jason Noble would finish in second with 27 laps and Chad Hutchinson would land the final spot on the podium. Jodi Stracham, the only female to race in the Ironman class would complete 24 laps aboard her 300EX to take fourth place and Bryan Hickman would round out the top five. Todd Macke, who was riding for the ART, cerebral palsy charity who succumb to mechanical issues after seven laps that would end things early for him.

The awards ceremony for the racers would last until the wee hours of the morning before tired racers would head back to their hotel rooms or begin their journeys home, but one thing was for certain, a good time was had by all and next years event promises to be even bigger and better.

“GBC Motorsports has signed on as the title sponsor of the Heartland Challenge for another five years, and SAFR has signed on as the presenting sponsor for five years,” stated GBC Motorsports’ Kevin Johnston proudly.

“We had a wonderful event this year. Everything went really well but we’re looking forward to an even better event next year with more classes and even more sponsor involvement,” said series promoter Andy Kyner.

There are no set dates yet for the 2010 GBC Heartland Challenge, but many racers are already making plans to attend and with new sponsors, new classes and new events, the 2010 GBC Heartland Challenge is already a highly anticipated event.

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