ITP Race Report: Racers Earn Six Wins at Can-Am Unadilla

Team ITP racers earned six class victories and eight podiums at round 10 of the 2014 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series held in New Berlin, N.Y.

"The first round back from the break is really like a whole new season within a season, but riders come in with points in tow and the pressure to perform is greater because championships are on the line," said Pat McGuire, Public Relations / Race Support. "Eight of our racers either made the podium or won their class, which helped many in their 2014 title chase."

Riding her No. 723 Honda outfitted with ITP tires, Angel Knox recorded her fifth WXC class win of the year at Unadilla to expand her class points lead. Photo: Courtesy of ITP

The Can-Am Unadilla event was the first race since the GNCC series took its summer break and riders were anxious to get back to racing for the podium and, for some, continuing their pursuit of a 2014 GNCC championship. Six ITP racers earned victories at Unadilla, while two others made the podium.

Dale Batson was the top finisher at Unadilla for Team ITP in the 10 a.m. session. The Ida, Mich., racer finished seventh overall and won the 35+ C class aboard his Suzuki outfitted with ITP tires. It was Batson's fourth win of the season and bumped his class point’s lead to 14 with three rounds remaining. Fellow ITP racer and 35+ C competitor Shawn Stuck, who has three wins this year, sits in second after a 12th place run at Unadilla.

Kenny Rich Sr. currently leads the Masters (50+) class in points after another solid win in New York. The veteran racer now has seven victories on the season using ITP Holeshot GNCC tires on his Suzuki ATV. Photo: Courtesy of ITP

ITP racer Angel Knox put her Honda ATV with ITP treads on top of the WXC class and finished 11th overall in New York. She has five wins and seven podiums after 10 rounds of racing, which is good for a one-point lead heading into round 11. Kenny Rich Sr. earned his seventh win of the year with a convincing victory in the Masters (50+) division in New York. His win and top-20 overall finish in the 10 a.m. ranks gave him a 55-point lead in his class.

Afternoon session racers Mark Batson (Vet B 30+) and Justin Paul (Junior B 22+) also posted wins in Unadilla using ITP tires. Batson tallied his fifth victory of season with a stellar wire-to-wire win at round 10 to expand his current points lead. Paul leads his class after earning his fourth win and ninth podium finish in 10 rounds of racing (he missed the opener).

ITP-supported Jordan Digby wasi n seventh place after the first lap, burt he climbed into the lead by lap two and never looked back on his way to winning the 125 Sr. (12-15) youth class at the Can-Am Unadilla GNCC. Photo: Courtesy of ITP

The final class victory for Team ITP went to youth racer Jordan Digby. Son of ITP Factory Support Representative Stan Digby, Jordan has been battling for the 125 Sr. (12-15) class title all season. The young Mississippi rider won his class for the third straight race (four total win this year) to climb to within 14 points of the class leader with three rounds remaining.

"Jordan got a huge class victory and took fourth overall in Unadilla," said Stan. "He has definitely looked very good the last three rounds, but has more work to do the final three rounds. We'd like to thank ITP and all our sponsors for their dedication and support this year."

ITP racers Kelley Deloach (Women's Amateur 13+) and Marti Lantz (Girls 8-15) each recorded third-place podium finishes in their respective classes at Unadilla. Earning top-five finishes for Team ITP were Dave Simmons (Super Senior 45+, 4th), Glen McConnell (4x4 Sr. 40+, 4th), Donnie Pruett (Silver Masters 55+, 5th) and Viligant Vet Racing's Sam Lamp (Vet B 30+, 5th). Round 11, the Car-Mate Mountain Ridge GNCC is slated for Sept. 20-21 in Central City, Pa.