Sweetwater, Tennessee produced not one, but two class champions in 2012 with Brian Villanueva taking the Senior-B class title along with Scott Skinner claiming the Super Senior B class championship. These two riders also happen to be close friends and travel to the races together. After profiling Brian Villanueva for Tuesday Toolbox a while back, it was only natural to catch up with Scott Skinner to discuss his 2012 season and how 2013 has gone thus far.

GNCCRacing.com: How's it going today?
Scott Skinner: I'm doing good, thanks.

Are happy to be back in the swing of GNCC Racing?
Yeah, for sure! I love racing motorcycles. I really don't do much pleasure riding, racing is my thing.

How did you spend your winter break?
Well, mostly just relaxing and training a little.  I spent time with my family and caught up on jobs around the house. I also raced the opening rounds of the National Enduro Series to get some extra training in as well.

Sounds fun! So tell us how your 2012 season went.
It was incredible. I had a blast and finished on the podium all season except for two races. My motor blew in South Carolina while I was leading, and I crashed at Loretta’s but other than that, it couldn’t have gone much better. The racing itself is a big part of the fun but I also enjoy traveling with my buddies to the races, and spending time with all the GNCC family, so that makes it even better.

What was the biggest highlight of 2012 for you?
Winning the Mountaineer stands out for me because I'm not fan of rock riding, but it all came together for a sweet victory and a cool trophy.

How did it feel to end up with the Super Senior B title?
That championship feels huge to me. It's the culmination of many races and experiences. I’ve had this goal for myself for a while, and I was so happy to achieve it. Also, my friend Brian Villanueva that I travel with to all the races won the Senior B title. That’s two championships from Sweetwater, Tennessee! That’s pretty cool in my book.

What was the competition like in the Super Senior B class?
The competition was made up of a lot of good riders. I had to work hard to win races. That kept it exciting for me every weekend because I knew I had my work cut out for me.

Who was your toughest competitor?
Without a doubt, it was Roy Johnson.  He came so close last year to winning the championship, and I knew he wanted it as much as I did.  He's an awesome contender and a super nice guy.

So how has your 2013 season gone so far?
Well, I skipped the Florida round and started fresh in Georgia. I’d like to say that it went pretty great but it could have gone a little better as I ended up 12th. I did finish though.

What do you hope to accomplish in 2013?
I'd like to gain experience riding with A riders, and put myself in podium position.

So tell us a little about yourself, what do you like to do outside of racing?
My family is an important part of my life. We try to do lots of things together in the off-season. We love the lake and boating. We also enjoy bicycling and getting to see new places and travel when we can. It’s

What do you do for your day job?
I own and operate a NAPA store that I bought several years ago. I’ve been with NAPA for 31 years now. I enjoy working with people and selling parts.

What's it like balancing that with racing?
It's hard sometimes. I'm tired and I have to leave straight from work most weekends. Most weeks I work over 60 hours, but I consider racing to be my stress reliever and makes it all worth it.

Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
Most of all my traveling and racing buddies, Michael Lauth and Brain Villanueva.  We've put together some great memories. Also at the top of the list is the best KTM shop I know, David Farris and his brother, Randy at Sportcycle KTM in Maryville, Tennessee. A lot of GNCC champs have come through that shop. I want to thank my family, especially my wife, Angie, for knowing how important racing is to me. I want to thank my friend Woody, who pretty much told me I could win this championship. I've got to thank Rita Coombs for keeping me in line when necessary, and all the GNCC crew. Also, thanks to you, Jared, for this opportunity and the work you put into the GNCC website. And of course, God for keeping me safe.