World's Best Off-Road Racers Invade Power Line Park this Weekend

 

Can-Am GNCC Race a True Festival of Speed

 

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio (October 8, 2008) -- The world's premier off-road racers will visit Power Line Park this Saturday and Sunday for the ITP Tires Power Line Park Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) race. The event, which is the penultimate round of the 13-race National GNCC Championship, features ATV racing on Saturday and dirt bike competition on Sunday.

 

Spectator passes are $15 for the full weekend, with Pro pit access and Pro autographs included at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, Youth riders race at 8 a.m., Amateur riders race at 10 a.m., and the Pro and Pro Am Classes compete at 1 p.m. For more information on the racing series, check out the official series web site at www.GNCCRacing.com.

 

Huge Turnout Expected

More than 1,500 competitors are expected to compete this weekend in both Amateur and Pro classes. Riders from all over the world compete in the GNCC Series, bringing international intrigue at all levels.

 

In addition to the on-track action, this weekend's event will also feature an expansive midway, as well as other entertainment opportunities, including full access to the pit area, allowing fans to interact with the riders and their race-bred machinery.

 

On-track, Power Line Park offers some of the best vistas on the tour from which to watch the action. The track includes large elevation changes, fast straight-aways and tight woods sections.

 

"Power Line Park has a long history in GNCC racing, and we're looking forward to celebrating our eighth visit here," said GNCC Trail Boss Jeff Russell. "Power Line Park offers some unique challenges for our competitors, and this area boasts some of the most ravenous off-road fans in the country."

 

Local Flavor

Situated just west of Wheeling, West Virginia, Power Line Park is in the heart of America's off-road country and many GNCC superstars make their homes in the area.

 

Ohio natives Charles Mullins and Jimmy Jarrett will carry the Buckeye flag, and lead the charge during Sunday's dirt bike race. Mullins (No. 3 Suzuki) is from just outside Cincinnati in Hamilton, Ohio and sits fifth in XC1 Pro Motorcycle points. Jarrett lives just 90 miles from Power Line Park in Beloit, Ohio and comes off of a visit to the victory podium at the previous series’ race in New York, where he finished third. Jarrett rides the No. 4 Suzuki.

 

In the XC2 Pro Lites Class, Williamstown, West Virginia's Thad DuVall put on a show this season, winning eight races, which culminated in him clinching the Riders' Championship at the most recent round. DuVall will make his debut in the premier XC1 Class this weekend, opening the door to a trio of young Ohio riders hoping to take the XC2 Lites victory: Kailub Russell (Kingston), Scott Watkins (Leetonia) and Cory Buttrick (Logan).

 

The 18-year-old DuVall will race alongside veteran teammates Barry Hawk, the 2003 GNCC Champion, and Jason Raines, who recently clinched his fourth AMA Hare Scrambles Championship.

 

Other local riders in the Pro Motorcycle Classes include Hawk (Smithfield, Pa.) and Kevin Korn (Toledo, Ohio).

 

International Intrigue

With England’s David Knight taking a hiatus this weekend, the field opens up for several riders to bask in the Ohio sun. Knight, on the No. 1 Red Bull KTM, clinched the overall XC1 Pro championship at the most recent round, but is taking this weekend off to compete at a race near his home in Isle of Man, U.K. In his place, the Red Bull KTM team will send eight-time AMA National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty and AMA 125 National Motocross Champion Mike Brown into battle.

 

New Zealand's Paul Whibley and Australia's Josh Strang, who sit second and third, respectively in the title chase, will battle for the runner-up slot in the Championship here. Just four points separate the two teammates in a battle for bragging rights within the factory FMF Suzuki team.

 

New York's Nathan Kanney is another 21 markers back in fourth. Kanney has ridden consistently this season, amassing four top-three finishes, including three straight leading up to this weekend. Kanney, however, remains winless this season, a predicament he'd like solve at Power Line Park.

 

Four-Wheeled Fury

In ATV racing on Saturday, Kentucky legend Bill Ballance looks to clinch his record ninth-straight GNCC Championship.

 

However, several local racers could derail him, including West Union, West Virginia's Adam McGill, who sits second in points on the No. 5 KTM. McGill seeks his fifth win this season here.

 

Bryan Cook sits third in points on the merit of a win and three addition top-three finishes, including a third at the previous race two weeks ago. The North Carolina Honda racer, however, will have to contend with Western Pennsylvania's Chris Borich. Borich, from Sunbury, Pa., has ridden the No. 2 Suzuki to two victories this season, as well as a single runner-up finish.

 

Rookie Brandon Sommers (Millersburg, Ohio) is fifth in the standings and is seeking his first victory this season. Earning that victory just 150 miles from home would definitely be special for Sommers.

 

Other local riders set to compete this weekend include: Matthew Smiley (Kunkletown, Pa.), Johnny Gallagher (Aurora, Ohio), and Jarrod McClure (Kaska, Pa.).

 

A variety of special races and classes will surround the 1 p.m. Pro race. At 8 a.m., Youth racers ages six through 15 will compete on a special youth race course. The 10 a.m. Amateur race features Women, Super Senior, 4X4 and Novice Classes. The Women’s class features a fierce contest between a pair of Pennsylvanians: Uniontown’s Angel Atwell and Shamokin’s Traci Cecco.

 

At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the GNCC UTV Series hits the track, featuring side-by-side race machines such as the Yamaha Rhino and Polaris RZR.

 

The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is the largest off-road racing series in the United States. The top Pro racers make a lucrative living in the sport, reigning in six-figure salaries and endorsements, as well as a share of a $130,000 in prize purse and more than $3 million in contingency and bonus monies. GNCC events also offer classes for amateur riders of all skill and experience levels. Four-wheeled ATVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, October 11, and dirt bikes will race on Sunday, October 12. Riders can sign up at the track. The amateur racer entry fee is $40.

 

Fast Facts:

 

What:  The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), America's Largest Off Road Racing Series. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The nearly three-hour long GNCC races lead more than 1,500 riders through tracks ranging from eight to 14 miles in length. With varied terrain including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed.

 

When:             Saturday, October 11, 2008 - ATV Racing

Sunday, October 12, 2008 - Motorcycle Racing

 

Where:            Power Line Park, St. Clairsville, Ohio

 

How Much:            $15 Per Person Weekend Pass (7 years and older)

 

Who:   The Can-Am GNCC Series pits the best of the best in off-road racing against each other. More than 1,500 amateur racers are expected to compete on custom-built dirt bikes and four-wheeled ATVs. Top pro motorcycle riders include New Zealand's Paul Whibley and Australia's Josh Strang, as well as Nathan Kanney, Barry Hawk, Jr., Charles Mullins, Thad DuVall, Jimmy Jarrett, Jason Raines and Glenn Kearney. ATV pro riders include Bill Ballance, Chris Borich, Adam McGill, Bryan Cook, Taylor Kiser, Chris Bithell, Matt Smiley and William Yokley.

 

Media Credentials: Media members wishing to cover the event should contact Justin Anderson at 704-589-2100.

 

About GNCC Racing:

The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America’s premier off-road racing series. The 13-round championship series is produced exclusively by Racer Productions and has run since 1973. GNCC Racing airs weekly television shows on the Versus network. GNCC featured sponsors include Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose Racing, Maxxis, Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, Geico, Klotz, FMF, ITP and Weekend Warrior, and riders compete for over $3 million in series prizes and contingency money. Associate sponsors include Alpinestars, Cometic, HiPer Technology, Laegers, Moose Utility Division, The National Guard, Powersport Graf X, REM, Scott, Thor, Tire Balls, Twin Air, Ogio, Rekluse, and MotoTee’s. For more information, please log on to www.gnccracing.com.

 

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