Wednesday, October 9, 2013 | 1:35 PM
The 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series heads to St. Clairsville, Ohio this Saturday, October 12, for the 12th running of the ITP Powerline Park GNCC. After wrapping up the XC1 Pro ATV title with two rounds to go, Chris Borich will attempt to tie the all-time record for ATV overall wins at this weekend’s penultimate round, furthering his chances of breaking the record—held by 9-Time ATV GNCC Champion Bill Ballance—this season.
Borich heads into this weekend’s Powerline Park GNCC with 66 career wins behind him, seven of which he has earned this season. The Pennsylvania native kicked off 2013 with five consecutive wins and since then, he has only captured two overalls in the last six rounds. However, a consecutive string of second place finishes was good enough to earn Borich a fifth consecutive XC1 Pro Class title at Round 11.
It was Reliable Tool Supply/Maxxis’ Chris Bithell who claimed the overall win at the inaugural Gusher GNCC, earning his first victory of the season in his home state of Pennsylvania. Currently sitting fourth overall in the championship standings, Bithell has been a strong contender all year with seven podium-finishes through the first eleven rounds.
While Lonestar Racing/Precision/ITP’s Adam McGill hasn’t been as consistent atop the podium, the West Virginia native has managed to score championship points in all eleven rounds thus far. This consistency, as well as an overall win at Round 8, has earned McGill the third place position in the overall standings, where he sits just two points ahead of Bithell.
With two overall victories this season—the second most of the class—AmPro Yamaha’s Walker Fowler currently holds second overall in the championship standings. With the exception of the mud race at Round 5, Fowler has shown much consistency by finishing inside the top five at every other round. The Ohio native has earned his place as a top contender amongst the many veterans in the XC1 Pro Class.
BNR’s Kevin Yoho heads into Round 12 with the fifth place position in the overall standings, while Team Woodhead/DeRisi Racing’s Braden Henthorn holds the sixth place spot. HMF/GBC/Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher sits two points behind Henthorn in seventh, with Waynesburg Yamaha’s Jeff Pickens and JB Racing/Cheerwine/Can-Am rider Jarrod McClure holding eighth and ninth place respectively.
Ohio’s Brycen Neal wrapped up the XC2 Pro Am Championship last round after capturing his eighth class win of the season. Neal, an XC2 rookie, has plans to make the jump into XC1 for the remaining two rounds, where he will compete full time in 2014. Indiana’s Fred Marley now sits only one point ahead of reigning XC2 Pro Am Champion Patrick McGuire with two rounds remaining. The duo has been battling back and forth all season long and it will likely come down to the season finale to determine the second place finisher.
Four-wheeled ATVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, October 12 and motorcycles will race on Sunday, October 13. Local riders are invited to race the event as well, the entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the track.
Spectator passes run $15 for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., amateurs and Women race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m. For more information and directions to the event, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
Previous Round Results and Championship Standings
Car-Mate Gusher GNCC
RiverStone Estate – Foxburg, Pa.
Round 11 of 13
Saturday, September 21
XC1 Event Results:
- Chris Bithell (SUZ)
- Chris Borich (SUZ)
- Walker Fowler (YAM)
- Adam McGill (HON)
- Gabe Phillips (YAM)
- Braden Henthorn (HON)
- Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
- Eric Hoyland (HON)
- Brian Wolf (HON)
- Jarrod McClure (CAN)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
- Chris Borich (306)
- Walker Fowler (225)
- Adam McGill (200)
- Chris Bithell (198)
- Kevin Yoho (145)
- Braden Henthorn (132)
- Johnny Gallagher (130)
- Jeff Pickens (127)
- Jarrod McClure (117)
- Brycen Neal (113)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2013 National Champion.
XC2 Event Results:
- Brycen Neal (HON)
- Patrick McGuire (YAM)
- Fred Marley (HON)
- Michael Lancaster (HON)
- Josh Merritt (YAM)
- Randy Hamilton (HON)
- Chad Jones (HON)
- Blake Kramer (YAM)
- James Green (HON)
- Michael Mcavoy (YAM)
XC2 Series Standings:
- Brycen Neal (280)
- Fred Marley (201)
- Patrick McGuire (200)
- Landon Wolfe (171)
- Randy Hamilton (161)
- Josh Merritt (158)
- Michael Lancaster (141)
- Chad Jones (139)
- Blake Kramer (134)
- Nathan Wallpe (124)
About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,000 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.