2006 GNCC Series Round #5 - Loretta Lynn's - ATV Race Coverage

The good spirited, Brandon Ballance hasn’t been able to get within striking distance of the Podium since his great ride in Florida which netted him the final podium spot as he has proved his ability to outlast the competition in the sand box of Florida, but he has since been gradually working his way back into a groove by finishing 7th Overall at the Big Buck

Another Pro Rookie, Chris Bithell is determined to improve upon his #14 number plate for 2006 with a great start to the season as he hasn’t finished out of the top 10 overall yet this year and earned his second career podium appearance at the Steele Creek GNCC, but followed it up with his worst race of the year with a 10th overall at Big Buck, which isn’t bad for a Pro still in his teens.

There are now 3 Pro Rookies in the top 10 overall, which is great for the future of the sport.

Other up and coming riders are several Pro Am Riders, Jeffrey Pickens proved his ability at the Big Buck GNCC as he finished in the top 10 overall for the first time, and I am sure it doesn’t hurt to have one of the fastest women racers in your corner, Angel Atwell.

(left to right)
Sean Neidlinger, John Cunningham, Tyler Lenig)

Sean Neidlinger has busted out of know where in 2006 with an incredible start to the season by winning two races already and is currently lead the Pro Am Points and is currenty ranked as the top Amateur in 12th Overall in a tie with Craig Reed followed by Jeffrey Pickens and Tyler Lenig.

Tyler Lenig was a dominate force in the Morning Race when he raced the Stock Class on his Cannondale, but for 2005, he moved to 4 Stroke B and battled with Brandon Sommers, but unlike Brandon moving to A Class, Tyler has made the leap to Pro Am, which has proved to be a great decision as he has consistently finished in the top 5 in the class and is currently 3rd in points behind Craig Reed.

John Cunningham on the other hand is just an old fart still racing, lol Just kidding John, he is still trying to reel in the unnaturally fast Dave Simmons in the Senior Class, and Mr Cunningham is currently leading the points, but Dave has three wins in a row and is well on his way to another championship, but I can say that Mr Cunningham is #1 in my book for RV repair as he surely fixed up mine when it left me sitting on the side of I-81 last year, and I knew just who to call, and it has been running great ever since.

Thanks for all your support John Cunningham, and you never know maybe hanging around with these young bucks will rub something off on you.

Jarrod McClure quietly took the #1 plate in the morning last year by claiming the #201 away from Stephanie Parton for the first time since its inception. For 2006, Jarrod has made his way to the Pro Am Class, but his inability to get his new Honda to start with one kick has had him fighting threw the pack from almost dead last every race, and he has persevered and has proved his ability to pass his way through the pack and still has managed to every race in the top 10.

Jarrod is joined at everyrace with his father Jarrod, which is one of the great things about GNCC racing is the family involvement. It has truly brought me and my father closer together over the years racing, and I am sure it has done the same for many others, which is part of the reason why I still enjoy racing as much as I do, and I personally can’t wait to race again in less than one month at the penton depending on the weather.

Brent Sturdivant is normally joined at the races with his Father and brother Brandon, but this weekend it was just Brent and his father as Brandon was home recovering from a cold.

In 2005, Brent was faced with the worst luck of any racer, but he still came back week after week, and he only successfully finished 2 races out of the 12 he raced, and his 2006 season picked up where his left off last year with yet another DNF in Florida, but he has since been able to finally get into a groove and has finished two races in a row in the top 20 overall, which is a huge step in the right direction for this young talent, and he really opened some eyes this weekend at the Loretta’s GNCC.

With the race about to begin, the racers stood for the playing of the National Anthem.

William Yokley had a huge fan club of women cheering his name before the start of the race as they made the short trip down from Kentucky to watch their #1 rider.

With Morning racers and fans lining the track and looking over the track side billboards to watch the start of the race, the green flag was about to be waved by Ricky to start the Afternoon Race.

With the start of the Pro Race, Bill Ballance rounded the first corner first followed by Borich and Johnson as they attempted to square off the turn and head toward the left hand turn ahead and sprint toward the white line to claim the $100 ITP Holeshot Award.