2007 GNCC Series Round #5-Loretta Lynns-Hurricane Mills- Morning Coverage

[Pappy]

Round #5 of the Can AM GNCC series made it's way to the rolling hills of Tennessee to the oldest stop on the circuit. The event, held at the Loretta Lynn Ranch offers fans and racers some of the most scenic countryside available in the area, not to mention a challenging course to race on.

The morning race had 350 entries on the line as the 10 am start time grew closer.

Women's class Champion, Traci Cecco was on the line and awaited the start. The last round found Traci almost unchallenged by her Polaris mounted rival Stephanie Parton as she suffered a DNF and Traci rolled to yet another victory this season.

Morning Gallery #1 (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=2864928)

Morning Gallery #2 (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=2866127)

[Pappy]

Stefanie Verkade has been unable to break inside the top 5 this season, but it is not for lack of trying. The womens class has really stepped it up this year and it is not just a 2 rider class anymore as the top 5 riders are capable of taking the win at any round.

[Pappy]

The Utility classes are also ultra competitive these days, with factory backing and efforts to drive sales based off wins, the pressure is on at each round.

[Pappy]

Big John clears the first turn of spectators as the race was about to get underway

[Pappy]

The green flag waved and out came the ladies on a wide open charge to turn one. Traci Cecco grabs the holeshot as the field heads for turn two.

[Pappy]

Super Senior was the next class off the line, and it was Mike Ockerman leading the class through turn one.

[Pappy]

4x4 Open takes to the track with Jacob Kirst getting the holeshot over Rick Cecco and the remainder of the class.

[Pappy]

U2 rider Michael Benson leads the way into turn one and sets off to see if he can make it 5 wins in a row!

[Pappy]

4x4 Lites class was a bit thin as many riders opted to run the WPSA series as conflicting shedules hit the series.

Jerime Dudding charges hard at the start grabbing the holeshot

[Pappy]

4x4 Limited's Mike Penland pulls the holeshot and heads for turn two

[Pappy]

The Sportsman class had Robert Godley out to the early start, but he went on to finish the day with a DNF

[Pappy]

16-19C Class had Jimmy Houston claiming the holeshot

[Pappy]

20+C rider Jacob Lovett was about to see what Tennessee dirt tastes like, as he clipped the first turn fence

[Pappy]

Lovett actually got into the barrier fence a few feet prior to the pole, but there was no stopping what was at that point a wreck in progress

[Pappy]

I was hard on my shutter release and my mouth agape as I watched it all unfold, surely he was going to get used as serious traction!

[Pappy]

I am sure it felt like an eternity as the sound of everyone hitting the first turn around him continued as he bounced across the ground

[Pappy]

The dust cleared and Lovett was on his feet, a bit battered but still able to compete! he completed 3 laps before calling it a day!

[Pappy]

24+ C rider Robert Brancamp may have won the race to the first turn, but it was going to be a drag race to the second!

[Pappy]

30+ C rider Michael Young has been on fire this season, shown here getting the holeshot and on his way to his 4th straight class win!

[Pappy]

Women Novice was lead out by Heather Best, competing in her first GNCC this season. Heather finished 4th on the day!

[Pappy]

Kyrie Brafford heading off for 2 hours of work that resulted in another 3rd place finish!

[Pappy]

Nathan Whitenker may be attending his first GNCC of 2007 , but he showed he could get himself the holeshot and hold the lead for the class win in First Year Racer 16-24!

[Pappy]

Youth Production

Walker Fowler and Stephen McCulloch set out to settle who wanted the holeshot the old fashion way.....


By not lifting:devil:

[Pappy]

The battle went out of site in the same manner!

[Pappy]

As the starting area cleared of racers and spectators, I decided to wait near the MX portion of the course to see how the first lap played out. In past years, most of the MX track was utilized, however this year only a small portion was included in the course.

As the minutes ticked away, I could finally here the sound of engines up in the hill's and finally the sound grew nearer, but it wasn't the sound of a thumper as expected, it was the sound of a Utility screaming across the hard road and heading for the MX section.

Rick Cecco was the first rider to appear to everyone's astonishment! In reality, Rick had blown a turn and ended up cutting part of the course. He was held at the scoring tent until his class made their way to that point, at which time he was turned loose to chase down the overall leaders. That is indeed a tough break for Rick, he had everything needed this round to battle for the overall.

[Pappy]

The action was fierce in the Women's class, as Parton and Atwell hit the MX track ahead of early leader Traci Cecco.

[Pappy]

As soon as the leaders all hit the MX track, Cecco wasted no time in closing the gap and was soon in Atwell's roost

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John Gallagher was already in the top 5 before the first lap was scored

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Benson was ripping as he railed the corners, but Jim Stack was closing in as the pair headed in to complete the first lap

[Pappy]

Marcus Gonzalez and benson have been having some terrific battles this season, but bad luck struck and Gonzalaz was only able to put in one lap this round, finishing in 12th

[Pappy]

Jacob Kirst was riding strong, and went on to finish the day in 2nd, his best finish of the season thus far

[Pappy]

The course layout ran through a nice piece of bottom land that meandered through the pits. A long run after scoring through a field was followed by a large uphill that greeted the riders as they entered the woods section.

[Pappy]

Walker Fowler was one of the first riders I encountered as I made my way to the bottom and watched as the 350+ riders turned smooth corners into hard rutted obstacles that would test man and machine.

Fowler had won the battle with McCulloch and had his sights set on moving through the field

[Pappy]

Sometimes just racing yourself can be a battle!

[Pappy]

Traci took over the lead from Parton, with Atwell holding the 3rd spot as lap two was scored

[Pappy]

Parton was only 5 seconds off Traci, and it looked as if we could have a close race between the two taking shape

[Pappy]

I made my way to the uphill everyone kept telling me about, and it was everything they said it was! A good steep accent with multiple lines allowed passing if you could out power the rider infront of you.

[Pappy]

Steve McCullough had dropped back to 4th in his class, but was still running strong as the race entered it's final laps

[Pappy]

Cliffton Beasley charged the hill and kept on charging to take the class win in 4x4 Lites

[Pappy]

Tanner Battin was racing his first GNCC in the Youth production class this round. This class just keeps getting bigger!

[Pappy]

Mike Benson pulls in for a splash of fuel, and was keeping an eye on his back trail.....

[Pappy]

He may have been looking for Gonzalez, but Stack was the rider running him down!

[Pappy]

Rick Cecco was riding extremely well, but wasn't going to be able to overcome the error on the first lap. Rick won his class, and finished the day in 17th overall.

[Pappy]

Mike Penland will be the first to atest to the pace that is being run this season. The past champ knows it is a days work this season to run upfront. Mike finished 6th in 4x4 Limited

[Pappy]

The big uphill got busy real fast and staying out of the way was my main priority!

[Pappy]

Brandon Boso on his way up the hill

[Pappy]

I kept hearing riders talk about this hill after the race, I cant help but wonder what it would have been like if it had rained!

[Pappy]

With the white flag out, cecco was on the move and doing her best to get around lappers as fast and as safe as she could

[Pappy]

Atwell was closing in fast as she was now in the number two spot

[Pappy]

Parton was solid in 3rd, but off the pace, by seconds. At their level, that is all it takes.

[Pappy]

Gallagher was in the hunt, but lappers were spoiling his plans. With the right line blocked, the cagey vet had no choice but to follow a rider up the left line which resulted in costing him valuable seconds has the rider had difficulty near the top.

John finished the day in 2nd place in Super Senior 50+ and remains 1 point behind Ockerman

[Pappy]

Jim Stack points his V Force up the hill and hammers on, doing all he could to reel in Benson. In the end, it would not be enough and he settled for 2nd. Good ride Jim.

[Pappy]

With the checkered flag out, Traci Cecco clinched win #5 of the 2007 season and is all but untouchable it seems. The first lady of GNCC racing may not sing like Loretta Lynn, but I dont think Loretta could hold a candle to Traci on a quad!

Congrats on another victory!

[Pappy]

Traci may seem untouchable, but if there is anything Angel Atwell can do to grab ahold of her and shake loose her winning streak, I assure you she will!

Sitting 8 points behind Traci and holding the 2nd spot in points, any mistake by Cecco will find Atwell out front and standing tall in Traci's place! Atwell followed Traci into the checkers by a margin of 2 seconds!

[Pappy]

Mike Benson was close....like in 3 seconds close to the overall! This class win marks Benson's 5th staright U2 victory and like Traci, seems to have it all dialed in this season.

That wraps up the coverage for this round. I would like to state that once again, Sport class rider Joey Margaria came through the field like a knife through hot butter and finished 4th overall! Amazing run Joey!

Walker Fowler also made another impressive charge, starting on the last row and finishing 49th overall! It has to be a good feeling leaving 300 riders in the dust!

[my88r]

well maybe this year i will go to a gncc they have been boreing the last few years. and it finally has a stop in ny.

[bradley300]

[i]
That wraps up the coverage for this round. I would like to state that once again, Sport class rider Joey Margaria came through the field like a knife through hot butter and finished 4th overall! Amazing run Joey!
[/B]

and only 5 seconds off the posium at that!