Thursday, May 26, 2016 | 2:00 PM
Racer Productions Celebrates Charlie Mullins at The Wiseco John Penton GNCC
Mullins Retirement Announcement to be Honored this Weekend
Racer Productions and the AMSOIL GNCC Racing Family is pleased to celebrate the racing career of FMF KTM Factory Racing XC1 rider Charlie Mullins this weekend at the 27th Annual Wiseco John Penton GNCC at Sunday Creek Raceway in Millfield, Ohio.
Mullins earned the coveted title of GNCC Overall National Champion in 2011, gaining him admission to an elite group of only 13 other riders who have ever achieved that title, riders such as Scott Summers, Rodney Smith, Juha Salminen, David Knight, Shane Watts and Ed Lojak, just to name a few.
Other career highlights include two AMA National Enduro Championships (2010 and 2013), two tours on the ISDE US World Trophy Team (2012 and 2013), and recognition as the 2010 AMA Athlete of the Year.
Mullins, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, deems The John Penton his hometown race. “I’m looking forward to returning to my GNCC Racing roots,” offered a thoughtful Mullins. “This is where I grew up racing and it is only fitting that I wrap things up here.”
Mullins was among the first GNCC-raised youth riders to graduate to the pro ranks. Prior to his ascension, most youth riders were transplants from motocross. Mullins was the first of his colleagues, kids like Thad Duvall, Kailub Russell, and DR Atwood, to be reared on GNCC racing.
Earlier this season Mullins made the painful decision to retire completely from racing as a result of complications from a double wrist injury sustained during a practice ride in the May of 2014. “My right wrist just isn’t healing the way it needs to be to compete at this level. I needed to think about my future and my family,” said Mullins.
After taking the 2015 season off to recuperate, Mullins returned to the GNCC starting line for rounds 3 and 4, Steele Creek and Big Buck, with mixed results. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” reflected Mullins, “But I just couldn’t hold on. The rest of my body is in top shape, but my wrist is literally falling apart.” Soon after Big Buck, the doctor confirmed that the wrist had sustained further injury and would never heal fully. It was then Mullins made the painful decision with the support of his family.
“Racing has been great to me,” continued Mullins. “I grew up at the races. This is where I earned my living, where I met my wife, Rachel, where I bring my kids, Cooper and Dax. It’s going to be tough not being able to pound the woods with these guys, but I know this is what’s best for me.”
In attendance for the special occasion will be event name-sake John Penton. Penton spearheaded the KTM off-road program 40 years ago when he started importing the Austrian brand to his family shop in Amherst, Ohio. Penton and the entire KTM Factory team will be on hand to support Mullins and share in his accomplishments.
The event will also feature the 12th Annual KTM Youth Day, making it one of the most popular events on the circuit. As a salute to its importing pioneer, Mr. John Penton, KTM will provide every Youth motorcycle racer who enters the John Penton GNCC with a commemorative Youth Day t-shirt featuring Charlie Mullins.
Mullins and his teammates Kailub Russell, Kacy Martinez and Russell Bobbitt will meet riders at the finish line area to award each Youth motorcycle racer with a finisher medallion upon completion of their race. The FMF KTM Factory Racing racers will be present during the podium celebration and each Youth racer that lands on the podium will get a photo taken with the factory riders. As the featured rider on the official event souvenir t-shirt, Mullins will also be on-hand to sign autographs at Moto Tees. And the boys at Racer TV will have a microphone with his name on it for Sunday’s premiere pro race.
Other special activities include a Clutch Build Competition presented by Wiseco, Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Wiseco Movie Night premiering Rob Mitchell's recently released feature From The Other Side on Saturday at sundown.
The John Penton GNCC takes place at Sunday Creek Raceway – a popular motocross and off-road race facility that has hosted the event since 1990. A mere ten miles from downtown Athens, Sunday Creek Raceway has earned the reputation as a premier off-road racing destination on the tour.
To get to the track from Athens take Route 33 W. one mile to 13N (Chauncey Exit), and then go three miles into Chauncey. Turn right and stay on Route 13 N. for 10 miles to Jacksonville. The make a right turn on Sixth Street for 2 miles, then turn left at the track entrance.
For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.comor call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCCLIVE.
About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis 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.