Walker Fowler Race Report: Powerline Park GNCC

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 | 10:10 PM

The penultimate round of the 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, travelled to St. Clairsville, Ohio on Saturday, October 7. Walker Fowler secured his 11th win of the season in his home state.

Fowler got off a favorable start and had command of the lead by the third turn. As usual, Fowler focused on distancing himself from his competition early on, but one rider was able to latch on and keep up with his pace. As the opening lap came to a close, Fowler slid back to second at the technical FMF PowerPoint section of the track and had to keep pushing to keep up with the leader.

*Walker Fowler jumping the infamous creek jump at the Powerline Park GNCC.*
Ken Hill

When they checked through timing and scoring for the first time, Fowler was on the back wheels of the leader and was able to steal the lead back after Pro Row when his competition misjudged the course markers. With his quick thinking, Fowler was able to ride his way to another win.

Fowler’s 11th win of the season was extra special where he added yet another chapter to the history books. Fowler now holds the record for the most overall wins in a season, in any discipline of GNCC Racing. With only one round remaining, Fowler aims to end his third championship season where it began – in the middle of the box.

“A new single season wins record is incredible to be able to achieve,” said Fowler. “It will definitely give me something to try and beat again, and I look forward to all the racers after me to try and beat it as well!”

Fowler started on the second split row in the UTV race again, and began his race mid-pack knowing he would have to put in a clean first lap to end up on the podium. Fowler settled into a comfortable pace and began chipping away at the lead until he came across another driver who was stuck.

*Even after some setbacks early in the race, Walker Fowler still finished an impressive sixth place overall in the UTV race.* Ken Hill

The other drivers faired off better than Fowler and squeezed by the added obstacle, but the other driver just started to pull out as Fowler neared and blocked the trail even more getting Fowler stuck as well. Fowler lost multiple positions in the time that it took to get untangled from the other car.

Unfortunately a similar situation happened on the next lap, further pushing Fowler back in the results. On the last three laps of the race Fowler put in consistent lap times, which were some of the best times the entire race, but they weren’t enough to recover from the issues Fowler encountered on the first two laps. Fowler finished an impressive sixth place overall despite the setbacks.

Fowler will focus on capping off his third national championship season with his 12th win of the season at the popular Ironman GNCC next weekend, October 28, in addition to landing his first-ever UTV podium finish.

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