The Classic (Rodney Tomblin)

Merriam-Webster states the word classic is:
—used to say that something has come to be considered one of the best of its kind.
—used to say that something is an example of excellence.
—used to describe something that has been popular for a long time.

By definition I would say that the John Penton GNCC is a true classic, and as we celebrated the 26th running it was apparent that something special loomed in the air. There are several things that make the John Penton GNCC special. The fact that it is now the oldest race on the schedule helps make this fact obvious, but somehow it has been such a staple that it's true contribution to the GNCC story was not recognized fully until now.

It has always held stories of the most insane mud races in history just simply from the slick, sticky, heavy consistency of the soil. It has it's stories of the incredible dust on occasion and it has also been known for some of the most perfect conditions a racetrack can present. Heck, in 25 years we should have seen about everything, and we pretty much have.

The most prestigious thing to me though is that it is where it all began for Barry Hawk. It was at these grounds that he claimed the first of his insane 68 combined ATV and bike overall wins. Every time I would say that at the starting line this weekend I got goosebumps and Barry gave a humble "ah shucks" grin and went about his job with the riders meeting as the Lieutenant Trail Boss.

The weekend brought about a few surprises, but the way things have gone lately nothing is really too much of a surprise. Ronnie Rusch continued his win streak with now eight straight and Kailub Russell took his third consecutive win at his prestigious family farm. His grandfather stood quietly in the background smiling from ear to ear, and who can blame him? As I watched Howard Russell, I realized that he was watching the fruits of his labor as the race and farm is what piqued Kailub's interest in the sport and drove him to become one of the best.

Howard Russell and Big Dave Coombs laid the first track through those woods in 1990. Howard has often laughed about how Dave would say how perfect of a location and beautiful of a piece of property that it was and just how right he was. On my way home I reflected the weekend and thought back to my very first "Burr Oaks" in 1996. I thought how much of a change the series has taken on so many levels and I thought about what was the same. The changes are obvious. The equipment, the amount of participants, the size of the crowds, the size of the rigs, the many vendors and sponsors in sponsor village and oh yeah, live video coverage across the globe on RacerTV.com and a highlight program on NBCSports.

The part about what was the same is what drives it all home for me. The same heart and spirit of competition still beats strong in our "Racin' Nation". Many of the folks that raced in 1990 were in attendance as well. Duane Conner, who won the first ever Burr Oaks motorcycle race in 1990, was there racing the Senior-A class. It was then that I realized just how strong the core of our sport truly is. Who would have ever thought that 25 years after winning a race you would be back still racing and competing at the top level in your class. Even though he is not pro now, he is a big part of our pro class history and I felt honored to see Duane racing.

So by definition the Wiseco John Penton GNCC is a classic. It has earned it's stripes and it is all a classic represents. As well it continues to add to the flavor of one of the world's most recognized off-road championships in the most classic of all championships, the Amsoil GNCC by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship.

Snowshoe Update (Jared Bolton)

Alright, last week I mentioned that I would save some of the juicy Snowshoe track info until after John Penton. Well, now that we’ve gotten through another awesome weekend of racing on what was probably one of the best John Penton courses of all time, the time has now come to share that Snowshoe info!

For everyone coming and staying in a reserved room/condo/house/etc, please make sure that you check-in at the Inn at Snowshoe located at the base of the mountain. They’ll have signs to remind you to check in there but the reason for this is that Mountaintop Check-In is closed for the summer due to some remodeling taking place there. Also, do NOT try to skip around that and use the Allegheny Springs check-in either as there’s simply not enough room to accommodate a large number of vehicles trying to check-in, so they ask that everyone checks in at the base of the mountain.

As for the track, we’re using a lot of the favorite usual trails but also changing things up a little bit including a few fresh trails. In 2013 the afternoon quad race ran through a rock garden that was slightly uphill. It was super tough and was actually taken out for the bikes. We’re going through part of that again, but it will be going down hill and it’s nowhere near as nasty as it was, however, it’s still pretty technical and you’ll want to take your time making your way through it. Of course, what would Snowshoe be without Howard’s Hole?! Naturally, the big mudhole is in for this year’s race and while it’s going to get sloppy and nasty, it’s another spot that if you take your time and pick good lines through, it’s very doable.

The course will actually will not be going all the way to Silver Creek this year. The folks at Snowshoe have recently spent some time rebuilding some of the ditches around the roads through the Silver Creek area, so we’ll let that area heal this year and stay above Slide Run Road (the gravel road that leads from Silver Creek to Shavers Lake at the bottom of the mountain). However, there’s still plenty of technical, tough spots to pick your way through on the east side of the mountain even without going to Silver Creek.

On the west side of the mountain (AKA “front side”) you’ve got the usual technical spots on that side of the mountain, including the up and downhill pieces that work you over towards and back from the plateau. Once you get out on that plateau, that’s going to serve as a good break as it’s a lot of really fun and flowing trail with just a few technical spots on it.

Ultimately it’s going to be around 11 miles on the west side, and just around 5 miles on the east side of the mountain. The quads will get a bit of fresh stuff, and the bikes will also have a few sections that will differ from the quads. I feel like this is going to be one of the most fun Snowshoe courses we’ve ever seen as it’s not necessarily about being overly hard, but it’s about being technical and challenging while also having a lot of fun. So if you’re on the fence about racing, don’t skip it! It’s going to be a good time! 

2-Wheeled Update (Jared Bolton)

While Kailub Russell continues his dominance of the bike ranks, there’s a number of riders mixing it up for the rest of the podium finishes. Of course, the rider that has been most notable as of late is Ryan Sipes, and his performance last weekend shows that he truly is one of the gnarliest guys around right now. More on that later.

There’s no doubt that Sipes is really beginning to adjust to the GNCC world as he’s landed on the podium in the previous 3 rounds, and has really solidified himself as the next rider to possibly step-up and challenge Kailub Russell, who everyone knows is the one to beat right now. Grant Baylor was the first to step up and nearly topple Russell’s early season win streak as he challenged for the win at the Limestone 100 GNCC before Russell was able to pull away with the lead.

While several riders have challenged for the lead several times this season, Chris Bach has been the only other rider to topple Russell thus far in 2015. Unfortunately for Bach, he’s also had several up and down races this season but the one that everyone thinks of is the win in New York. Thad Duvall has also show glimpses of speed throughout the season, and he’s proven himself as a previous race winner. Could Thad step up and claim a win before the end of the season? It’s very possible!

Many thought of Josh Strang to be the one to snap a Kailub Russell win streak. However, a shoulder injury prior to the Tomahawk GNCC has put a damper on his season, as he’s now dropped from 2^nd place in championship standings to 6^th. Once his shoulder is fully healed, there’s no doubt that Strang can challenge for wins. His Rockstar Husqvarna teammate Andrew Delong has also had an up and down season after breaking his collarbone at the opening round in Florida. Delong has still logged a couple of top 5 finishes, and very well could return to podium contention soon.

Next weekend we head to Snowshoe. With a tough and technical track, it can ultimately be anyone’s ball game as when the conditions get tough, it’s not always about who’s the fastest, but also about who rides the smartest, picks the right lines and makes their way through the tough and technical sections. Kailub Russell has proved that he’s just as good in tough, technical terrain as he is in faster terrain. However, keep in mind that Sipes put up a challenge at the rough and rocky Mountaineer Run GNCC.

Only time will tell what could come. As for Ryan Sipes, he’s got another race to look forward to first as he’ll be contesting this weekend’s High Point National Motocross, and looking for yet another solid finish in the motocross world, proving himself to be one of the most well-rounded riders in the sport. 

Just Two In The Coup (Rodney Tomblin)

Until recently no one seemed to really have what it took to conquer Chris Borich, and even though there would be glimpses of something coming, he would often times squash it before it got out of control. Then came Walker Fowler, who somehow got more in the head of the champ than anyone. Possibly more so because Fowler was able to beat the champ while he was still in the XC2 class. Then he began winning the face-to-face showdowns with the champ and the game changed.

Last season’s epic showdown at the Ironman GNCC was setting the stage for this season but no one expected the twist in plots that we have seen. The rise of Adam McGill, Jarrod McClure, Brycen Neal and Chris Bithell has been a bit of a shocker. It has further complicated the matters for Chris Borich as he scrambles to build a new program. He has all but written the hopes of a title off at this point and now he is focusing on making it work. As expected, there have been some issues but admittedly by Borich it's not that big of a surprise. He had hoped for better but knew that things were not going to be easy. However, don't expect him to just sit back, he will continue to be a factor down to the wire.

As the shock of it all wears off, we are now faced with two of the fastest and most consistent riders pulling a healthy lead in the points. Or, at least at the moment. Who knows what Snowshoe could do? It has thrown a wrench in things in the past and who’s to say our Blackwater Tribute doesn't have something up its sleeve? I for one am not going to count anything out. Anything!

West Virginia native and one of the heavy favorites to win here, Adam McGill, has a 22 point lead over Walker Fowler, and these two appear to be pulling out a rather healthy jump in points heading into the summer break. Knowing that things could take a big swing after this round it is hard to say that it is going to be up between the two for the title. On the flip side though, the maturity that both riders are currently showing may be what holds it all together for both as both have shown great patience in their efforts this season. And even though McGill seems to have shown more this will be a true test for both to see if either are ready to be champion.

The points don't lie. Right now it looks like McGill and Fowler are the only ones that show what it going to take to win this year. The overthrow of the power seems to be imminent in the ATV Championship and a new leader may be about to prevail. Who will be standing at the end of it all to claim victory and a page in history no one saw coming? And the big question, can the old power somehow rise from the battlefield to restake his claim against this coup? Stick around! The fun has just begun! 

Sipes Makes History (Jared Bolton)

Throughout the history of GNCC Racing, there have been a number of riders who have made their way from the motocross world, into the world of GNCC Racing, and also a number of GNCC racers who have given the motocross world a try. However, Ryan Sipes has undoubtedly done something that no rider has done before.

Sipes began last weekend at the Tennessee National Motocross at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee. After what seemed like a nearly last minute preparation for the race, Sipes finished an impressive 11^th overall beating likes of many well known motocrossers such as Chad Reed, Fredrik Noren and others. Of course, Ryan’s weekend didn’t end there. He would then make the trip north and compete in Sunday’s John Penton GNCC, finishing 2^nd place overall for the second time this season.

While there’s been multiple riders to compete in both GNCC and Pro Motocross events in the same season, never has a rider competed in both events in the same weekend. That marks the 2^nd time that Sipes has been able to make history since transitioning to GNCC Racing last season.

The first came last year at the inaugural Indiana National Motocross at Ironman Raceway where Sipes would put together two great motos to finish an excellent 4^th place over. While Sipes came from a motocross background, his main focus for the season was GNCC Racing and never has a full-time GNCC rider finished that high at a Pro Motocross event.

That’s a pretty big deal when you look at the type of talent that has made a transition from motocross to GNCC Racing over the years. Rodney Smith and Fred Andrews, who were arguably some of the greatest GNCC racers of the 90s and early 2000s both made their way into GNCC Racing after successful motocross careers.

However, they’re not alone in riders making that transition. 1990 125 National Motocross champion Guy Cooper spent several years racing GNCC, snagging a few wins in his time. Mike Kiedsrowski claimed 4 Pro Motocross titles in 3 different classes (125, 250 and 500) before giving the GNCC world a try in the early 2000s. Ty Davis was also a successful motocrosser who found an equally successful career in the off-road racing world. Arguably one of the best all-around racers, Mike Brown, who has claimed 125 Pro Motocross titles, and most recently earned an X Games gold medal, has also landed on the GNCC podium before.

There’s even more motocross racers who have given GNCC Racing a try as well. One of the most impressive performances in the history of GNCC Racing was Doug Henry’s win at the 2005 Orange Crush GNCC where he would topple the great Juha Salminen. The world-famous Travis Pastrana has also given multiple Florida GNCC events a try over the years, and of course most recently we’ve seen Zach Osborne land several podium finishes in the XC2 class in the past few years.

It’s always incredible to see these types of performances happen, and with the GNCC name growing more and more, who knows who would could see give GNCC Racing a try in the coming years. After all, it’s some of the most fun you can have on a motorcycle or ATV! 

#ThrowbackThursday (Jared Bolton)

With Snowshoe coming up, this week and next week’s Throwback Thursday sections will be devoted to some throwback Snowshoe photos, along with more classic Blackwater 100 photos!

It’s also a good opportunity to share a little bit of info on how the Snowshoe Mountain Resort became what it is today, as that’s a pretty interesting story all in itself. In fact, for those who may not know it, the mountain itself is actually named “Cheat Mountain” while Snowshoe is the resort name. In the early 1900s, then again in the 1940s, Cheat Mountain would be home to loggers clearing the mountain for valuable timber. They actually build a railroad from the town of Cass, up Cheat Mountain to assist in removing the timber from the mountain. This, along with it’s logging history is how Snowshoe earned some of it’s ski slope names.

In the early 1970s Thomas "Doc" Brigham, who had previously developed North Carolina’s Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain Ski Resorts began developing the Snowshoe Ski Resort. Over time the resort would change ownership, and would also acquire Silver Creek in the early 1990s after it had originally been opened as a separate resort. In 1999, development on “Wildcat Village” would begin with the opening of the Rimfire Lodge. Eventually the Wildcat Village name would be scraped in exchange for simply being known as the Village of Snowshoe eventually developing into the Snowshoe we know it as today! 

GNCC on NBCSN

Don’t miss the GNCC Bike feature show on NBCSN Saturday, June 13 at 12:30 p.m. ET from the Limestone 100, Round 5 of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis.

If you miss a show, full replays will be archived on RacerTV.com throughout the season.

Saturday, June 13
Bike Feature Show
Television: 12:30 pm ET, NBCSN

Headlines

Russell Dominates Wiseco John Penton GNCC

Walker Fowler Earns Fourth Win at 26th Annual Wiseco John Penton GNCC

Tuesday Toolbox: Ryan Sipes

Video: Jesi Stracham's Return to GNCC Racing

What's New on RacerTV.com

The Racer X Show with Greg White returns this week with an action-packed show. Tonight’s show includes racing from Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, AMA Pro Hillclimb, World Superbike, and much more! 

The fourth round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship took place in Tennessee, and with Eli Tomac out of the season the door was open for a new winner to emerge. In the eighth round of GNCC racing, Kailub Russell was looking to continue his dominance, while Ryan Sipes was finishing his double header weekend after finishing 11th overall in the Pro Motocross.  On the ATV GNCC racing side anything was possible, and Fowler was looking to shrink the points gap between him and current points leader Adam McGill.

The world famous X Games took place from June 4th through June 7th, and we have the highlights from the Enduro X and first-ever AMA Pro Flat Track event at X Games. The Yoshimura Road Racing segment also returns with highlights from World Superbike in Portugal, as well as the highlights from MotoAmerica’s Supersport race.  

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