2015 GNCC Racing Series Round #9 - Snowshoe Snowshoe, WV June 20, 2015

GNCC Racing 4x4 Pro ATV Podium (left to right) Rob Smith (2nd), Kevin Trantham (1st), Bryan Buckhannon (3rd)

GNCC racing event at Snowshoe Mountain, is a race like no other. Its scenic setting in the Allegheny Mountains, the unique race setup and the unpredictable weather leaves no room for ambivalence. You either love it or hate it, and it is normally the last round before the summer break to give racers several months to prepare for the next round in the fall, and multi-time GNCC Champion, Kevin Tranthan, was up for the challenge and atleast this year, he loved it.

Trantham would work his way up to the front and lead a pack of racers to the finish line. Said Trantham, “We have some of the best components out there, and they held up real good. In the places where there was single line and pretty rough, I took it easier and the places where you can really open it up, I did and it worked out well”.

Polaris' Kevin Trantham claimed his 4th win of the season in the 4x4 Pro class, which is a class leading, but after nine rounds of racing, he is tied with his teammate, Michael Swift, for the 2nd spot in the points race

Asked about taking and then holding the lead, Trantham responded, “I was feelin’ good, but had no idea it would be for good. You know with a race like Snowshoe, the lead changes a lot, with the conditions, bottlenecks and lapped riders and often the winner gets decided right at the end. Today it worked out for me. You know, my teammate Michael Swift passed me on the steep ski slope downhill and scared me a little. He was on his two front wheels for a quite a bit, but it worked out, and I am grateful for the win. I want to thank our great sponsors, including Ed Teixera, with Texeira Tech, Custom Axis Shocks, Maxxis tires and Ricochet Offroad skid plates. Also Scott goggles, they worked great and I did not need to stop for goggles, and I believe that made a big difference’.

#202 Kevin Trantham holding the lead through the mud at Snowshoe

Rob Smith had an interesting day, dropping back to the rear of the big 4x4 machines, before hooking up with Polaris Factory pilot, Michael Swift and together making their way up into the lead pack, where Swift and the podium finishers would battle it out until a mechanical issue forced him to drop back. “It was tough out there”, said Smith, “but everything worked awesome, there were no issues with my Can-Am, and the GBC tires gave me the power I needed”. Trailing Bryan Buckhannon and the Team UXC Racers, Rob is confident that he is still in the fight and is looking forwards to the second half of the season.

Robert Smith scored his 4th podium finish of the season & he is currently 4th in the GNCC Racing 4x4 Pro ATV Championshp points

Bryan Buckhannon had a good day, following Zac Zakowski into the holeshot and then taking the lead a short while later. “It was eventful for sure”, said the 2014 GNCC 4x4 Pro Champ, “I had some issues passing lappers and got stuck in the mud once, putting me back 30-40 seconds and spent a lot of energy making it back from that. But these guys ran a heck of a race and it simply wasn’t my best performance, but we got some valuable points’.

Quad Boss's Bryan Buckhannan claimed his 9th Podium finish of the year to maintain his Pro 4x4 ATV points lead

Buckhannon said he had to thank “Quad Boss, Bike Master, Kenda Tires and Can-Am as my four major sponsors, and I especially want to thank John Rogers my mechanic. He has done an excellent job all year and has kept the bike together all year”.